Nicolas Anelka claims 'nothing has really changed' at PSG since the departures of Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe
Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Nicolas Anelka has claimed that nothing has really changed at the club since the departures of Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, and Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman blamed the media for PSG losing their high-profile players.
The French heavyweights became one of the most watched and talked about teams in Europe when they had Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, and Kylian Mbappe in their ranks. However, despite the presence of the trio at PSG, the club couldn’t achieve European glory and were consequently criticized by the media.
Mbappe was the latest of the trio to depart as he left the club for Real Madrid this summer. Messi and Neymar parted ways with the club in 2023 for Inter Miami and Al-Hilal, respectively.
However, PSG’s struggles in the Champions League have persisted, despite the departures of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe. Although they have a seven point lead at the top of Ligue 1, PSG are placed 25th in the UCL's league phase standings - outside the knockouts qualification zone.
Nicolas Anelka, who is a product of PSG’s youth system and made 69 appearances for the senior team, has weighed in on the current situation at the club. He said (via World Soccer Talk):
“You have criticized PSG’s stars, but now they are gone, there are no TV rights, and it doesn’t interest anyone anymore.”
“Nothing has really changed, you have dominance in Ligue 1 and then they struggle against teams with quality in the Champions League. […] Yes they are a team without stars but with some very good players after all. They are top of the league in Ligue 1 right? So what are you (the media) asking for? In the Champions League they are not yet eliminated. Anything can happen in three matches.”
"We didn’t fit in" – When Neymar Jr explained why PSG’s star-studded attack with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi failed to win the Champions League
Back in 2023, Neymar Jr explained the reason why his combination with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at PSG didn’t yield a positive result in the Champions League. The Brazil international claimed that Le Parisiens had a very strong team, but they couldn't quite work together.
Neymar said in an interview with YouTuber Casimiro Miguel (via GOAL):
"We had a very strong team. Messi, Mbappé and I are three guys who are the best in the world. We knew it, but unfortunately, we didn't fit in. It wasn't good for us."
During their time together at the Parc des Princes, they were eliminated twice in the Champions League in the 2021-22 edition and the 2022-23 edition. Both eliminations came in the Round of 16 against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, respectively.