“Advantage every other team” “Ghosting again” - PSG superstar Lionel Messi gets trolled before kickoff as he partners Mbappe and Ekitike
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Lionel Messi got trolled after the Parisian club's first XI to take on Auxerre was announced. Fans on Twitter took shots at Messi as the Argentine continues to enjoy a subpar spell since the turn of the year.
The Parisians are currently atop the Ligue 1 table and could take another giant step towards securing the French league with a win against Auxerre. Christophe Galtier has revealed his team's playing XI for the game.
Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal for the Parisians. Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, and Danilo Pereira are the three defenders. Warren Zaire-Emery and Juan Bernat are the two wing-backs. Marco Verratti and Fabian Ruiz are the two midfielders.
Lionel Messi starts in the attack alongside Hugo Ekitike and Kylian Mbappe. Fans, though, are having a field day as they are firing shots at the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner. One of them wrote on Twitter:
"Messi ghosting again."
Another fan claimed:
"Messi starting? Advantage every other team."
While Lionel Messi has scored 20 goals and has provided 19 assists in 38 games for PSG across competitions, he clearly hasn't been able to convince everyone. Here are some of the best reactions across Twitter as PSG face Auxerre:
@TheEuropeanLad against who? Messi found his level
@TheEuropeanLad Pessi
@TheEuropeanLad Messi ghosting again
@TheEuropeanLad This team doesn’t look elite at all. Ewww
@TheEuropeanLad Messi starting? Advantage every other team
PSG manager Christophe Galtier expresses regret about attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe
With Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe in their ranks, PSG have one of the best attacking trios in the world. They haven't lost a single game this season in which all three have started.
However, the trio were not available together in the most crucial matches of the season, like the UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Bayern Munich. Christophe Galtier addressed the issue.
Speaking to the media ahead of the away clash against Auxerre, he said (via PSG Talk):
"Regarding Leo, Kylian, and Ney, when you have these players, it was immediately a goal to be able to combine them together. To have an offensive game with three very talented players but also to have the right balance. Unfortunately, with the World Cup in the middle, injuries that happened to some and others, we could not take advantage of it all season."
Galtier added:
“Is that a regret? That’s how it is, it’s part of the seasons. I’m not going to remind you, we’re not at the time of the assessment, but each time they were on the field, they were very efficient, and we had a very interesting offensive game. But it’s part of a season to not have everyone at the same time. The regret is not to have had this offensive trio in the decisive matches.”
The trio might have played their last game together as Lionel Messi looks set to leave PSG at the end of the season upon the expiration of his current deal. Neymar is currently out injured and the Brazilian has also been linked with a summer move.