There have been mixed reactions towards both Lionel Messi and Neymar following Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League knockout stage exit against Real Madrid. For former Italian midfielder Giancarlo Marocchi, he is coming to the defense of Neymar and not for Messi after they were booed in PSG’s Ligue 1 home fixture against Bordeaux.
In speaking to Sky Sport, Marocchi provided his reasoning on this matter.
“Think about the PSG fans: for how many years will they be forced to see Messi walking on the field?” Marocchi said. “There is a limit to everything.
“I defend Neymar with all my might, he can play badly but at least he is always inside the game. Messi in the last two years at Barcelona and now at PSG is not. It’s a shame, it breaks my heart to see a decline like this from one of the best players ever.”
Overall, Neymar came away from the tie with two assists recorded, while Messi failed to notch a goal contribution over the course of both matches against Real Madrid.
PSG will simply have to continue to look ahead after this sudden exit from the Champions League competition. Both Messi and Neymar are much expected to remain as regulars in PSG’s starting lineups for the rest of the Ligue 1 campaign, and next up for PSG will be its league encounter against AS Monaco.
PSG players dont want Messi to shine. And someone is expecting for him to do it alone? Anyway, talk is cheap!
Exactly, I share the same sentiment.