‘In games that matter, YOU DISAPPEAR!’ Lionel Messi is MISTREATED by PSG legend Jerome Rothen when he accuses the Argentina captain of only appearing in his country’s big games after their poor Champions League round of 16 exit against Bayern Munich .
- PSG were soundly defeated in both games of their round of 16 tie against Bayern
- Messi was largely kept quiet by the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies.
- After the defeat, Rothen criticized the Argentine captain for lacking ‘respect’
Lionel Messi has been accused of ‘disappearing’ at Paris Saint-Germain’s big games and only showing up when it matters for Argentina after Bayern Munich knocked out the French champions from the Champions League.
PSG were convincingly beaten in both legs of their round of 16 battle with Bayern, who cruised to a 2-0 victory in Wednesday night’s decider at the Allianz Arena after winning the first leg of the last month by a single goal.
It turned out to be a miserable European campaign for the Ligue 1 leaders, with Messi unable to inspire them to the quarter-finals after Alphonso Davies and Matthijs de Ligt kept him quiet, ending their quest for a fifth Ligue 1 crown. Champions.
And after the defeat, the 35-year-old received scathing criticism from PSG legend Jerome Rothen, who believes his below-par performances show he lacks “respect” for the club given how well he performed in the league. Argentina’s World Cup winning campaign.
“Messi, we don’t want him!” Rothen, who made 180 appearances in his own five-year spell at PSG, said in an explosive tirade on the French radio station. RMC. He doesn’t want to get involved in this club! He says that he is “acclimated” now, but what are you acclimated to?
Lionel Messi has been accused of ‘disappearing’ in big Paris Saint-Germain matches
Messi was silent as PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich
‘Did he score 18 goals or 16 assists this year against Angers and Clermont? But in the games that matter, you disappear!
‘The joke is that we saw his matches in the World Cup, I saw his movements, how he was reversed. I don’t care, taking into account that it’s the national team’s shirt, a separate thing, but hey, respect the club from the capital a bit, 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.
Rothen has made it clear in recent months that PSG should not extend Messi’s contract beyond the summer amid reports that a renewal is on the cards.
Last month he criticized the former Barcelona star for not ‘investing in the project’ and prioritizing his own interests over those of the club.
“In terms of image and what it reflects, I can’t understand why Messi wants to extend the adventure here.
He does not make any effort to put the club ahead. He never thanks the fans, lowers his head and goes to the locker room.
Even when he celebrates goals and his name is chanted, he never makes a gesture for the fans to thank them for their support.
PSG legend Jerome Rothen accused him of appearing only when it matters for Argentina
Rothen previously urged PSG not to tie Messi to a new contract
‘He doesn’t want to invest in the project. So I don’t think it’s a good idea to continue.
Wednesday’s elimination will only add to the pressure on PSG boss Christophe Galtier, despite his team sitting eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
After his second leg loss in Munich, Galtier admitted that he was not sure what it meant for his own future with the club.
‘My future? It’s really too early to talk about it,’ she said. “Obviously it depends on the management (of the club) and my president.
‘There is a disappointment. The club had high hopes for this competition.
“I remain focused on the end of the season with a lot of energy and determination.”