Disaster Strikes PSG: Fans' Disapproval Follows Messi's Announced Lineup | The New York Times
Paris Saint-Germain's disastrous season took another hit on Sunday, as the team slumped to a 1-0 loss to Lyon, their second consecutive home defeat. But what was even more telling was the reaction of some PSG fans when Lionel Messi's name was announced as part of the starting lineup.
Fans at the Parc des Princes whistled as Messi took his place on the pitch, a stark contrast to the adoration he received during his recent return to Argentina for friendlies against Panama and Curaçao. This harsh reception raises questions about whether the Argentine superstar is being held to an unfairly high standard by fans and coaches alike.
Messi's arrival at PSG was expected to be the missing piece that would propel the team to Champions League glory, a trophy the club's Qatari owners desperately crave. However, so far this season, Messi's impact has been limited to winning the Ligue 1 title, which many argue PSG would have achieved without him.
Coach Christophe Galtier refused to blame Messi for the team's struggles, citing the need for other players to step up and do their jobs. "We can't expect everything from Leo and Kylian," he said. The coach is right; while Messi has provided 34 goal contributions this season, his success is being weighed against an unreasonably high expectation.
Galtier's frustration was evident when asked about the jeering fans. He found it hard to listen to, but acknowledged that there are expectations for Messi and Kylian Mbappé to unlock difficult situations. However, these expectations have become a burden, with some fans seemingly more focused on blaming Messi than supporting him.
As PSG faces an uphill battle to regain their form, they must navigate a crucial week ahead. First, they travel to Nice, where the team is unbeaten in 13 matches, before hosting Lens at home. If PSG fails to win either of these matches, the title may be slipping through their fingers, and Messi's role will be called into question once again.
The problem lies not just with Messi but also the larger narrative surrounding PSG's season. Coach Laurent Blanc noted that the Champions League or bust mentality has been detrimental to PSG's performances, causing fans to lose sight of the bigger picture.
As the season hurtles towards its climax, one thing is clear: PSG must find a way to balance individual expectations with team performance. If they fail to do so, the consequences will be felt, and Messi's future at the club may hang in the balance.
Paris Saint-Germain's disastrous season took another hit on Sunday, as the team slumped to a 1-0 loss to Lyon, their second consecutive home defeat. But what was even more telling was the reaction of some PSG fans when Lionel Messi's name was announced as part of the starting lineup.
Fans at the Parc des Princes whistled as Messi took his place on the pitch, a stark contrast to the adoration he received during his recent return to Argentina for friendlies against Panama and Curaçao. This harsh reception raises questions about whether the Argentine superstar is being held to an unfairly high standard by fans and coaches alike.
Messi's arrival at PSG was expected to be the missing piece that would propel the team to Champions League glory, a trophy the club's Qatari owners desperately crave. However, so far this season, Messi's impact has been limited to winning the Ligue 1 title, which many argue PSG would have achieved without him.
Coach Christophe Galtier refused to blame Messi for the team's struggles, citing the need for other players to step up and do their jobs. "We can't expect everything from Leo and Kylian," he said. The coach is right; while Messi has provided 34 goal contributions this season, his success is being weighed against an unreasonably high expectation.
Galtier's frustration was evident when asked about the jeering fans. He found it hard to listen to, but acknowledged that there are expectations for Messi and Kylian Mbappé to unlock difficult situations. However, these expectations have become a burden, with some fans seemingly more focused on blaming Messi than supporting him.
As PSG faces an uphill battle to regain their form, they must navigate a crucial week ahead. First, they travel to Nice, where the team is unbeaten in 13 matches, before hosting Lens at home. If PSG fails to win either of these matches, the title may be slipping through their fingers, and Messi's role will be called into question once again.
The problem lies not just with Messi but also the larger narrative surrounding PSG's season. Coach Laurent Blanc noted that the Champions League or bust mentality has been detrimental to PSG's performances, causing fans to lose sight of the bigger picture.
As the season hurtles towards its climax, one thing is clear: PSG must find a way to balance individual expectations with team performance. If they fail to do so, the consequences will be felt, and Messi's future at the club may hang in the balance.
! i mean, yes, his impact might not be as huge as some ppl think, but he's still bringing goals and assists to the team 
. maybe fans r expecting too much from him? we gotta remember that there r other players who need 2 step up & do their jobs too 
.
. and yeah, the whole champs league or bust mentality is probs a bit much 4 psg fans 
. they need 2 chill out & focus on the bigger picture.
! we gotta give him some love & support 
. he might not b the answer 2 all PSG's problems, but hes def part of the solution 
. bring it on, psg fans! let's show them some love 
. And yeah, the coach is right - Kylian Mbappé can do more too 
️. The fans are already getting restless, and if they don't see improvement soon, it could get ugly 
.
their reaction 2 messi's lineup announcement was wild i mean we all knew he wasn't gonna make an immediate impact but c'mon ppl give the guy some space 
and yeah, expectations r high 4 those guys but can't blame them 4 feelin it 
psg's gotta find a way 2 balance individual performances w/ team goals or else its gonna b another disappointment 
, I mean, come on! Can't these fans just give the guy a break? 
It's just embarrassing.
It's like they're forgetting that football is a team sport.
And fans need to be more supportive, not critical. 
. And can't they see that other players need to step up too? Kylian Mbappé and co should be doing their part to support Messi, not just relying on him to save the day 
. It's time for fans to calm down and support their players, rather than just criticizing them 
.
. But he's right that we need to balance individual expectations with team performance 
!
. PSG would've won that game without him, period. And yeah, he hasn't been that impactful this season, but let's not put all the blame on him 
? It's just a normal reaction when they don't see their team winning 
. The fans need to get a grip and support their team, not just one player 
.
how harshly ppl r treatin messi rn ... i mean, he's still one of the best players in the world, but it seems like everythin' he does is under a microscope 
he's trying his best but it seems like everyone's putting too much pressure on him 
. Galtier's right, you cant expect one person to do everything for the team. And whats with these fans whistlin when his name is announced? Is it a sign of disrespect or just frustration? Either way, its time for PSG to step up their game and show their fans what they're capable of 
. They need to find their groove and balance out individual expectations with team performance. If not, we might see some serious drama 
. That way, when the big games come around, everyone can perform at their best 
.
. Expectations can be high, but some of these jeers are just unfair 
.
. The pressure's on, guys! 
️