Henry insists Lionel Messi is NOT the answer to PSG's problems

Thierry Henry insists ‘superhuman’ Lionel Messi is NOT the answer to PSG’s problems in the hunt for big trophies because French giants ‘concede too many goals’ and must improve defensively

  • Lionel Messi is set to earn £25m after tax after joining PSG on a free transfer
  • Thierry Henry claimed that balance was important for PSG to win trophies
  • Henry insisted Mauricio Pochettino’s side need to improve defensively 
  • PSG starlet Kylian Mbappe is reportedly ‘concerned’ over the arrival of Messi

Paris Saint-Germain may have added ‘superhuman’ Lionel Messi to their squad but Thierry Henry has warned them it is not enough if they want to challenge for trophies this season. 

Henry insisted Mauricio Pochettino’s side need to improve defensively to win trophies on both domestic and European fronts. 

Messi joined PSG’s attacking ranks last week, arriving on a free transfer after his shock exit from Barcelona but Henry claimed that ‘balance is most important’ if they want to be silverware contenders. 

Thierry Henry claimed that Lionel Messi’s arrival at PSG won’t be enough to secure trophies

‘Balance is the most important. At one point, we always talk about great players, attacking, going forward, but we need a balance,’ the former France forward told Dimanche Soir Foot on Amazon Prime.

‘We are talking about the team in which I played at Barca, but people forget to point out that we weren’t conceding a lot of goals.

‘In general, teams that don’t concede a lot of goals are not far from the title, or even from the Champions League.

‘When you have superhuman players, it gets a little easier but when I see how Paris is evolving at the moment, they concede too many goals for my taste to be able to go a little further. It is true that there was a lack of players but the balance is the most important.’

Messi joined PSG after his 21-year career at the Nou Camp came to an unexpected end

The 34-year-old has reunited with former teammate Neymar at the Parc des Princes

Messi will link up with France starlet Kylian Mbappe and former Barcelona teammate Neymar to create one of Europe’s most threatening frontlines. 

Neymar and Messi struck up a great relationship when the former joined the Blaugrana in 2013, winning eight trophies across four years together but were separated by the Brazilian’s a world-record €222m move to PSG in 2017.

While Mbappe has developed into one of the greatest attacking talents of his generation.

However, the all-star attacking trident, dubbed MNM, could have a short lived spell together at the Parc des Princes as Mbappe is reportedly ‘concerned’ over the arrival of Messi. 

Rumours over Mbappe’s future at the club have been swirling all summer long, despite the speculation being overshadowed by the unveiling of Messi. 

Real Madrid intend to submit a £100million offer for Mbappe who scored on Saturday

The 22-year-old has yet to commit to an extension on his contract that expires 10 months from now. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Messi penning his deal has irked Mbappe, who now fears that he will be thrust into the shadow of his two illustrious partners.

La Liga giants Real Madrid, who have long been touted as potential suitors, reportedly intend to submit a £100m offer for Mbappe.

Spanish newspaper Marca said on their front cover on Monday that Real were entering the ‘final stretch’ of their long bid to sign the 22-year-old phenomenon.  

Now, Henry claimed big-money additions won’t solve problems on the pitch either. 

Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum and Achraf Hakimi joined PSG

The former Blaugrana star expressed his concerns following PSG’s victory over Strasbourg on Saturday, which saw them concede twice in a six goal 4-2 thriller. 

PSG lost their Ligue 1 crown last season after Lille unexpectedly triumphed but after a continued stream of new signings this summer Pochettino will be hoping silverware is inevitable this season. 

The Parisian side conceded 28 goals in their 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign leading to the addition of Real Madrid veteran Sergio Ramos to their defensive unit this summer.

Ramos joined Gianluigi Donnarumma and Georginio Wijnaldum on free transfers, while Achraf Hakimi was brought in for £54m from Inter Milan. 




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