TE24 Sports Desk:
Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Gaultier has backed Lionel Messi to overcome last season’s challenges and is having a ‘great season’ after opening the season with a Ligue 1 double.
Messi opened PSG’s 5-0 win at Clermont on Saturday, scoring two late goals including a superb overhead strike. Neymar, Achraf Hakimi and Marquinhos scored in the first half.
The Argentine double not only scored just 11 goals in all competitions in his first season in the French capital after joining from Barcelona, but saw Neymar and Kylian alongside Mbappe last season. Had a hard time getting on line.
Gaultier told reporters: He had a bit of a hard time last season. He had to adapt. A radical change, but he scored at least 30 goals in all the seasons before that.
He completed the entire pre-season. if you know your teammates well, there’s no reason Leo can’t have a great season. Season tours in Japan are always going well, he said. They have knowledge, they are very clear. Now he knows where to go.
The way he defends, the way he positions himself to play with other players. He can get into the zone. He likes to play with the players around him.
From then on, when Leo clearly smiles, so does the group. PSG will play Montpellier at home next weekend in the league.
