Lionel Messi’s adventure at Paris Saint-Germain came to an end on Saturday. PSG supporters made it clear once again that they are not sorry about that.
Sad end: Messi even whistled for farewell game by PSG supporters
Messi has an expiring contract with PSG that will not be renewed. That means he played his farewell match against Clermont on Saturday. Messi had a starting place and his name was announced in advance by the stadium speaker when reading the lineups of both teams. What followed was a lashing flute concert.
In any case, a large part of PSG’s supporters have been fed up with Messi for a while, who is the scapegoat almost every week and is systematically whistled. It was no different for his farewell match. This despite the fact that Messi can provide excellent figures: this season he scored sixteen goals and sixteen assists in 31 league games.
Galtier does not understand the whistling of departing Messi
Christophe Galtier has a bitter aftertaste about Paris Saint-Germain’s last game of the season. Clermont lost, but the most painful thing was the whistle from Lionel Messi, the coach thought.
Even when Galtier’s name was announced before the game in the Parc des Princes, there was a loud whistle. The 56-year-old French coach waved that away. “It’s never fun, but it’s no different, it’s part of the coaching profession. I understand the whistle. I accept it and I can’t help it. This is all the result of a very harsh approach by the media that I have experienced since becoming PSG coach. Nevertheless, I end this season with a lot of pride. I am a different person now, a different coach,” Galtier told Le Parisien. In his first season as a trainer in Paris, the national title was taken. For Galtier, that was his second championship, after stunting with Lille in the 2020/21 season.
Messi leaves, but what about Galtier’s future?
Most attention went to Lionel Messi on Saturday night. “I am very sorry about that whistling. He has had good and less good periods here. Maybe in a while I’ll find the cause of the way Leo is treated. He has always behaved very well here and is the best player in the history of football. He’s had another good season. I can only hope that people will eventually be able to analyze his performance a little less emotionally, with a little more compassion,” he said.
Messi leaves, but what about Galtier’s future? On the match day, new reports appeared in French media that the coach would end the story. Galtier himself doesn’t know anything yet, he emphasized: “When I woke up, my phone was constantly vibrating. I have also read the messages. I haven’t spoken to the president yet, but I have spoken to Luis Campos. In those conversations nothing has been denied or confirmed about my future. There will be another normal meeting to look back on the season. Then we’ll see which way the leadership wants to go.”
