Paris St. Germain: The system error with the superstars Mbappé, Messi and Neymar

Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar are set to lead Paris St. Germain to Champions League glory. The triumvirate is reunited in time for the home game against FC Bayern. But also a help?

In front: Kylian Mbappé. Slightly offset behind him: Lionel Messi and Neymar. Just as it should be for France’s flagship club, Paris is staging St. Germain on his homepage the three superstars also in a color gradation. As if the French miracle striker had to shine a little more colorfully than the Argentinian world champion and the Brazilian superstar.

Thanks to the lavishly bubbling Qatar sovereign wealth fund PSG the most expensive trident in the world since 2021, but a guarantee of the most valuable club trophy in club football is not priced in. On the contrary: Paris is still in debt before the Champions League round of 16 against FC Bayern (Tuesday 9 p.m.).

The ensemble with its three “aliens” has too often landed on the ground of facts; last year, by the way, in the premier class against the later champion Real Madrid, also in the round of 16.

All superstars train again

What gives the French champion hope this time: The recently broken triumvirate “MNM” – Mbappé, Neymar, Messi – is reunited in time for the first knockout duel of the premier class, at least on the training ground: All three were in the morning session on Monday (02/13/2023 ) present and in a good mood.

The commentators for PSG club television were almost overjoyed at who was suddenly jolly involved in the district game again: Mbabbé and Neymar wore a funny hat, Messi still wore a neck warmer – in a group with Achraf Hakimi, Marco Verratti, Sergio Ramos and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma the icons matched the balls in bright sunshine. Were the possible absences of the megastars communicated by the club just a bluff?

Mbappé was said to be absent for three weeks

Mbappé actually threatened to miss the first leg in the Prinzenpark with a muscle injury suffered at the beginning of the month, because the club itself had scheduled the downtime for three weeks. Now the 24-year-old may start out on the pitch at full risk. Messi had indicated that after the cup against Olympic Marseille (1:2) muscle fatigue that has occurred would be sufficient. The 35-year-old had recently been rested.

And Neymar was fit anyway, although not really in shape: The 31-year-old had his purification several times before the World Cup in the service of the Selection promised, but just at the weekend he fell back into his childlike behavior in the club. When the league leaders messed up the league game at AS Monaco (1: 3) with a better B-Elf on Saturday (February 11th, 2023), the diva was still bickering with fellow players on the pitch.

Presnel Kimpembe then took a corner in the Principality to calm the outraged PSG ultras. “We need you, don’t let us fall“The world champion of 2018 shouted almost imploringly via megaphone to the deeply disappointed entourage. And Mbappé also felt the unrest from a safe distance and then posted an Instagram post: “Let’s stay strong and united.” Behind the club slogan: “Here is Paris“. This is Paris.

Appeal to the public

The lightning-fast exceptional striker would have gone away long ago if PSG hadn’t pumped kloportiere 630 million euros into a contract extension to prevent his (free transfer) move to Real Madrid. It seems more uncertain than ever whether Mbappé can fulfill his longing for the pot at home.

Because even if all three giants are healthy now: With the current composition, the star troop stands in its own way. Mockers speak of a 7-3 system because the eleven appear in two parts: seven players work against the ball, three only watch: Messi and Mbappé are only willing to support midfield and defense in minimal doses, which is more frequent Neymar, who has been pushed to the tenth position, is at least partially involved.

For titles you need a different defensive behavior

Overall, the defensive behavior comes across as alibi-like, which no team in the world can compensate for if they want to win titles. Christophe Galtier, after all, 2021 champion coach with the outsider OSC Lillemakes no secret of the structural imbalance of his overpriced squad. “We have too many gaps”the coach, who was lured from the provinces, complained last year when his midfielders, the Italian Verratti and the Portuguese Vitinha, once again tried in vain to plug all the holes.

Actually, Messi should know how rewarding the collective defensive work can be: Argentina would hardly have managed the coronation in Qatar if his captain had only trotted alongside. At the World Cup, Messi exuded a playful mood and a willingness to fight, which he is at least partially missing in Paris. Perhaps he lacks the warm heart at this location that the national team and before that always Barcelona conveyed to him.

Messi’s whereabouts in Paris are considered uncertain

Messi’s whereabouts in Paris are considered highly uncertain, especially since the relationship with Mbappé is also considered to be strained. President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has to find a way to get the astronomical salary expenses under control, because UEFA’s financial watchdogs are already turning a blind eye to his PSG construct.

When it comes to money, the new world champion could soon get the same lure that his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo has already followed: In Saudi Arabia there is no limit to donations to living football icons, because the rulers there are now on the same horse sit like the sheikhs in Qatar.

Polishing up the image with football works extremely well. The Saudis, in association with Egypt and Greece, certainly want to organize a World Cup with the kind support of FIFA – the three-way application for 2030 is being launched. Until then, Messi is conveniently already busy as a tourism ambassador. Kicking there soon with or against Ronaldo is at least not a completely outlandish option.