Former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Jerome Rothen criticized Lionel Messi after the Argentine’s poor performance in the Parisians’ UEFA Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich.
the parisians crashed out of the Champions League after losing 3-0 on aggregate to Bayern in their round of 16 tie. They went into the second leg in Munich hoping to overcome a one-goal deficit, but instead suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Lionel Messi he was among those who struggled to make a step up at PSG, as he was largely anonymous on both legs. He managed just one shot on goal at the Allianz Arena and was dispossessed twice.
The result was that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career. However, Rothen has no sympathy for the Argentine icon.
Lionel Messi has failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career. 😯#UCL https://t.co/3Qh6o4KH4m
In reaction to the match, the former striker questioned Messi’s commitment to the club. He accused the superstar of boosting his stats with goals and assists against Ligue 1 minnows while he didn’t appear in big games.
“Messi, we don’t want him!” Rothen told French radio station RMC. “He doesn’t want to get involved in this club! He says he’s ‘acclimated’ now, but what are you acclimated to? Did you score 18 goals or 16 assists this year against Angers and Clermont? But in the games that matter, you disappear!”
💥🎙 @RothenJerome : “Messi, on n’en veut pas ! Il ne veut pas s’investir dans ce club ! Il se dit ‘aclimaté’ maintenant mais t’es acclimaté de quoi ?! T’as mi 18 buts ou 16 pass dé cette année against Angers et Clermont? Mais dans les matches qui comptent, YOU SHOOT! https://t.co/xczmq9z7kC
rotten noted how Lionel Messi led Argentina to glory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but failed to step up for the Parisians when necessary, saying:
“The joke is that we saw their matches in the World Cup, I saw their movements, how they were reversed. It doesn’t matter to me, considering that it’s the national team’s shirt, a separate thing, but hey, I respect the club in a bit of capital, which allows you to maintain a status and a salary”.
“Only PSG could give him that and, obviously, PSG fell at their feet because they thought that Messi was going to make us win.” [the Champions League]. But it doesn’t win us anything.”
How has Lionel Messi fared at PSG this season?
Lionel Messi has scored 18 times and provided 16 assists in 30 appearances in all competitions for psg. However, he could not prevent the team from being left out of the Champions League and the Coupe de France.
It should be noted that the 35-year-old’s contract with the parisians expires at the end of the season. While Parisians are eager to tie him to a new deal, the likes of Rothen aren’t sold on the idea.
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