Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has defended Lionel Messi’s (35) performances this season but added that “people still expect a lot more from” the player.
Messi has 20 goals and 20 assists in 39 games in all competitions this season. As Galtier pointed out during today’s pre-match press conference, transcribed by L’Équipe, that “is already a lot better” than last year’s return, where in his debut season in Ligue 1, the Argentinian World Champion scored 11 goals and registered 15 assists.
However, despite that, Messi’s form has still been called into question and was one of the major subjects broached at Thursday’s press conference, held in the run-up to Saturday’s game against Strasbourg. “Leo has been irreproachable throughout the season in his effort in training. Leo is football. It’s true. I have seen it every day in training, I’ve also seen it in our matches. This year, he has great statistics. It is already much, much better than last season. I think Leo has had a very good season with PSG, but people still expect a lot more from him,” he said.
Whilst this may statistically be the best of Messi’s two seasons at Parc des Princes, it is expected to be his last. Despite being reintegrated into the first-team setup following his unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia, French media are reporting that he won’t be retained by PSG when his contract expires at the end of the season.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
You may also like
-
Exclusive | Igor Tudor yet to respond to improved contract offer from Marseille
-
Interview | Youssouf Fofana: “It is the first time that I’ve had such a complete season.”
-
Kylian Mbappé on his PSG future: “I still have one year left on my contract. I’m going to honour it.”
-
PSG frustrated by Neymar’s Monaco GP outing
-
PSG’s Sergio Rico remains hospitalised after horse riding accident