Paris Saint Germain forward, Lionel Messi has given the French Ligue 1 giants tips that could help them land their first UEFA Champions League title this season.
The French Ligue 1 club was established 51 years ago. Despite a series of investments, the club has not been able to win the prestigious UEFA Champions League title.
PSG were very close to winning the European club competition during the 2019-2020 season. For the first time in the history of the club, they got to the final of the tournament but lost to Bayern Munich.
After that, they continue to invest heavily in established players to win the title. The drive to achieve such an aim made the French side bring in a serial winner of the tournament Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid and another serial winner of the tournament Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
Currently, PSG are in the round of 16 stage of the competition. They played the first leg of the round at Parc Des Princes last Tuesday against the most successful club in the tournament Real Madrid. PSG proved how serious they are in their quest to win the title by beating Madrid 1-0.
During the game, Lionel Messi, one of the pillars needed to bring the UEFA Champions League glory to Paris for the first time in 51 years, missed a penalty. It was an injury-time goal from Kylian Mbappe that saved the day.
As it stands, Lionel Messi is expected to redeem himself when the record seven times Ballon d’Or winner follow PSG to Madrid to play the return leg on March 9, 2022. A draw or a defeat in the match will knock out Real Madrid and push PSG to the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
Ahead of the second leg match against Real Madrid, Lionel Messi had an interview with PSG magazine. During the interview, the 34-year-old Argentine football icon who has won the Champions League four times admitted that it is difficult to win the European title.
He went on to list some basic guidelines PSG must follow to win the title which includes attacking together and defending together. That is, the team’s attackers are not expected to perform attacking roles alone on the pitch while the defenders are not also expected to defend alone.
While noting that PSG have the players needed to win the title, Messi added that there is no room for mistakes in the Champions League because a little mistake could lead to the elimination of a contender.
“It is difficult to win the Champions League because it is a competition that brings together the best teams and where the smallest detail, the smallest mistake can eliminate you”, Lionel Messi said.
“I think we have a team that can try to win it.
“We are excited about this idea and we have high hopes of fulfilling it, but we have to take it easy.
“I repeat, it is difficult to win the Champions League. The best team does not always win.
“Great teams have to be good in all areas of the field, in all areas, both in defense and attack.
“I think that this depends on the ability of a team to play as forwards cannot limit themselves to attacking and defenders cannot limit themselves to defending.
“We must form a strong and united team both in the defensive phase and in the offensive phase.
“This is the guideline that will allow us to be a fully competitive team that will try to win the Champions League, as well as all the titles that we are in a position to win.”
Since Messi joined PSG on a free transfer from FC Barcelona on August 10, 2021, the Argentina international has scored 7 goals and provided 8 assists in 21 games in all competitions. His contract with the French club will expire on June 30, 2023.
Neymar's reaction on Lionel Messi penalty Miss 💔#PSGRMA #UCL pic.twitter.com/8WgGHqrMpW
— Rahul_njr (@RahulNjr) February 16, 2022
