MY ACCOUNT
Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is perplexed there is any debate about Lionel Messi’s effectiveness for the club this season after his starring role in the 3-1 win over Saint-Etienne on Saturday.
The former Barcelona forward did not get on the scoresheet, but he was instrumental in his side fighting back from Denis Bouanga’s early opener for Saint-Etienne at the Parc des Princes.
Messi teed up both of Kylian Mbappe’s strikes either side of half-time, the second of which came after some superb skill to round two Saint-Etienne players.
He has now racked up six assists since the turn of the year – more than any other player in the top five European leagues.
His two assists on Saturday means he has laid on four goals for Mbappe in Ligue 1 this season, which is the highest total in the competition from one player to another.
Messi has been criticised for his poor goalscoring return this campaign, with just seven across all competitions, but Pochettino is in doubt about the 34-year-old’s quality.
“I can’t understand how there can be a debate about Messi because he is exceptional,” he told Canal+. “No, there is no debate. It’s impossible.
“Messi is incredible, magnificent. He played very well and the only thing he was missing was a goal.”
Mbappe’s second goal moved him level with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as PSG’s second all-time top goalscorer on 156 goals, while he became the first player in Ligue 1 this season to reach double figures for goals and assists (14 goals, 10 assists).
Pochettino was full of praise for the forward’s display and insisted he has not sustained an injury despite appearing to hold his right thigh late in the first half.
“Kylian is fine,” Pochettino added. “He had no problem. He is suspended against Nice [next Saturday] and will be able to work for a week. He will be ready to start in Madrid [for the Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid on March 9].
“We are very happy with him, that he is with us. I’m proud of him. It’s amazing, wonderful.
“I’m very happy because we finish the matches very well. We played the second half the way we wanted to play. Kylian is a fantastic player. Lionel and Neymar were also important for us.”
PSG have now won five of their last six Ligue 1 matches after a run of just one victory in their previous five, and Pochettino believes his side are slowly moving in the right direction.
“There is progress, small steps,” he added. “I’m happy with that. This is how you have to improve. The team is gaining confidence when we were still trailing. The team gains tactical richness.”
