As was the case last year, some Paris Saint-Germain supporters are unleashing their frustration on the team’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 exit toward players such as Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward was booed when his name was announced before PSG’s Ligue 1 home fixture against Olympique Lyonnais.
Lyon full-back Nicolas Tagliafico, who tagged along with Messi in Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning run, sees that it is unfair to single out the veteran forward for PSG’s recent sluggish performances.
Speaking to ESPN Argentina following Lyon’s 1-0 win over PSG, Tagliafico took some time to come to the defense of the Argentine star.
“Football is a team sport, it is not just for one,” Tagliafico said.
Tagliafico did also note that it is “normal” for club supporters to want “results” from the team that they back.
Messi failed to tally a single goal contribution against Lyon, but he did create five goal-scoring chances during the contest. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner currently boasts a 2.9 key passes per match average in Ligue 1 play.
PSG will now turn its attention to a Ligue 1 away fixture against OGC Nice coming up on matchday 30.