Some fans whistle as Lionel Messi’s name is announced as Paris Saint-Germain’s season hits new low

CNN
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Paris Saint-Germain’s miserable season went from bad to worse on Sunday as the team suffered a second consecutive defeat at home with a 1-0 loss to Lyon.

Even before the match kicked off, Lionel Messi suffered the full brunt of the frustration of some PSG supporters who whistled when his name appeared on the big screen during the announcement of the starting lineup.

After Alexadre Lacazette missed a first-half penalty, Bradley Barcola’s goal 10 minutes into the second half was enough to give Lyon all three points on a night where PSG rarely seemed to threaten the visiting goal .

Lens’ 1-0 win over Rennes and Marseille’s 1-1 draw with Montepellier mean both teams are now just six points behind PSG at the top of Ligue 1, and even the domestic title could elude the team.

The reaction from some fans on Sunday must have been a far cry from the adulation and worship Messi received during his recent return to Argentina for friendlies against Panama and Curacao as the country continued its World Cup celebrations .

Messi’s arrival at the Parc des Princes was supposed to be the missing piece that would help PSG finally win the Champions League, the trophy the club’s Qatari owners dream of most.

So far, the only major trophy the team has won since Messi joined was Ligue 1 last season, a title – it’s fair to say – that PSG would probably have won without him.

Messi has 34 goals in all competitions for PSG this season – 18 goals and 17 assists – just behind Mbappé’s 38 and head coach Christophe Galtier has refused to lay blame for the team’s failures at the feet of the Argentinian.

“I found (the mockery) difficult to listen to,” Galtier told reporters, according to The Athletic. “We can expect Messi and Mbappe to resolve difficult situations. Messi tries hard, but not all of them succeed; but around him, the other players must also do their job.

“We can’t expect everything from Leo and Kylian,” he added.

The next week for PSG will be season-defining as Galtier’s side travel to a Nice side undefeated in 13 matches, before welcoming Lens to the Parc des Princes.

PSG have lost two of their three matches since being eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern Munich last month, and only limped past relegation-threatened Brest with a 90th-minute Kylian Mbappé winner .

After his team’s victory, Lyon coach Laurent Blanc said the Champions League or bust mentality had hurt PSG’s performance.

“The problem for Paris is that when the No. 1 objective of the Champions League is no longer accessible, it seems that the season no longer exists – and at all levels,” he said. told reporters.