When you’re something of an ‘other-worldly’ being long suspected of hailing from another planet in the galaxy, the whole darned world does not miss a single heartbeat monitoring all that you do … or don’t do. Especially if you happen to be none other than Lionel Messi a.k.a. GOAT.
Messi has endured a bit of a trying start to his new career at Paris Saint-Germain with just one goal in Ligue 1 in 10 appearances but so what? Suddenly he has forgotten how to turn on the magic and the juice just because he has yet to get in tune with his new surroundings and the new team-mates surrounding him, apart from his compadre Neymar, of course? Hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day, like they say.
And kudos to PSG’s sporting director Leonardo for adamantly speaking up to defend the diminutive Argentine who has had mega millions of football lovers tongues hanging out as they hung on his every dazzling move on the pitch for close to two decades since he made his debut at Barcelona. And Leonardo has warmly hailed his impact at the Parisian club, and rightfully, too.
Leonardo has made his feelings clear in no uncertain terms on Lionel Messi’s most creditable performances for the club across the first half of the campaign.
Despite his early form dipping a bit in the French capital and falling far short of his personal extra-terrestrial expectations, Messi still collected his seventh Ballon d’Or title as he scooped the 2021 accolade last month, despite outcry from various quarters who felt he had robbed Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski of the golden orb. What the myopic legions of nerds can’t seem to digest is the simple fact that a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner isn’t garlanded with the most prestigious individual football award in the constellation for just stringing together the most goals in the league he’s played in. It’s a combination of numerous factors.
Why is why the Parisian juggernauts’ sporting director Leonardo was spot on the money when he slammed the Messi critics and loud-mouthed detractors when he said they knew jack about football if they needed to discuss the Argentine’s football merits and his status in the game.
“If you start arguing about Messi, you don’t know anything about football.”
It’s a fact that the Argentine superstar has found it difficult to adapt to French football in the opening half of the campaign following his high-profile summer transfer from Camp Nou, having found the net just once in Ligue 1 so far in his opening 10 matches in the division amid fears that he will fall short of 20 domestic league goals for the first campaign since 2007/08.
For one – and this is certainly not in any way an excuse being made to defend the GOAT as he definitely doesn’t need defending at all – the 34-year-old has been deployed on the right-side of a three-man attack in Mauricio Pochettino’s side and has often appeared somewhat uncomfortable in that position. Which of course would impact his playing, even though the little wizard is capable of playing in any position he’s assigned to. It’s all about him adapting to his new team mates’ style of play and vice-versa, more so the latter.
The diminutive Argentine’s time at the Camp Nou usually saw him play more centrally in a ‘number 10’ role but he has had to adapt quickly to a 4-3-3 system in Paris with Kylian Mbappe as the central striker with Neymar on the left. After years of playing in a central position for Barcelona, he naturally needed a bit of time to adapt and change to the new drift in Paris. That being said, the magician still coolly scored five goals in the Champions League to date – netting a superb solo opener against Manchester City in September before bagging doubles at home to RB Leipzig and Club Brugge, respectively. So show some respect, folks!
Two of those goals were penalties but the Argentine has unquestionably appeared much more at home on that continental stage, where he has excelled for so many years for Barca. However, PSG sporting director Leonardo has hailed Messi’s impact at the Parc des Princes so far this campaign.
Leonardo stated in an interview with Le JDD and Europe1, which was aired on Sunday night:
“Lionel Messi is indisputable for me. If you start to discuss Messi, it is because you did not understand anything about football. We can not doubt.
“If you look at Messi’s numbers, his first six months are incredible. He and Kylian Mbappe have been involved in almost every club goal. He is defining and decisive. We haven’t taken Messi to put on the show every time. game. With him, of course we are more competitive. He can decide every game.”
The Spaniard added:
“Who says he has to run 12 kilometers in every game? He’s been playing the same way for 20 years. It changes when you have other players next to you,” he added. “He’s adaptable because he’s a genius, and the other geniuses we have are going to adapt to him. “
Now that’s a true sporting director speaking with real experience and proven, in-depth knowledge of the dynamics of football and how the best players in the planet function within the game on any pitch in the world.
Credit: Football Tribe Malaysia
