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Former Manchester United and PSG midfielder Ander Herrera has pinpointed the main cause for Messi's recent struggles at the club
Ex-Manchester United star Ander Herrera has said the reason for Lionel Messi’s struggles at Paris Saint-Germain stems more from the club’s obsession with winning the UEFA Champions League than anything the Argentine has done.
Herrera explains PSG's Champions League obsession
Herrera played for three seasons with PSG, including one season alongside Messi, and understands perfectly the pressure on the club to win every trophy available, especially the elusive UEFA Champions League title.
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Les Parisiens have spent an inordinate amount of money trying to accomplish the dream of winning the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title, but the trophy has so far eluded them, leading to what Herrera has described as an obsession that causes imbalance.
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Herrera witnessed first hand the fallout of PSG’s obsession with the UCL after coming within a Kingsley Coman goal of winning the trophy, only for the season to be branded a failure despite the team from Paris reaching the final.
Herrera says PSG obsession to blame for Messi's struggles
In a recent interview with Bein, Herrera admitted to the unrealistic nature of PSG’s obsession with a European trophy, saying, “All the other teams can have good seasons without winning it, like Barcelona for example. But in Paris there isn’t that patience and calmness, even though things take time.
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17:16 - 21.05.2023
Barcelona forward Lewandowski speaks on Lionel Messi’s Return
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"I was very close to winning it, one goal separated me from winning the Champions League with PSG. It’s true that there’s an obsession, and in the end who pays for it? The best players, they are the ones who receive criticism.”
Specifically, Herrera pointed out how the obsession had affected the consensus on Messi’s time at PSG, which the fans believe to be subpar despite the Argentine forward regularly churning out game-winning performances in the 2022/23 season.
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“I admired him before knowing him, and I admire him even more after meeting him, as a person and as a footballer," Herrera said, before continuing, "I understand that PSG is a club that doesn’t have a lot of patience, there’s an obsession with winning the Champions League that doesn’t help.
"I think it’s the only club in the world where, if they don’t win the Champions League, it’s a failure.”
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23:09 - 16.05.2023
Lionel Messi makes player of the season nominees despite PSG troubles
Lionel Messi and his teammate Kylian Mbappe have been named among the nominees for Ligue 1 team of the season.
Due to tensions developing in Messi's relationship with the club, the Argentine is expected to leave at the end of the 2022/23 season when his contract runs out, with a return to Barcelona on the cards
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