Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe suffer humiliation in PSG loss to Rennes
When Lionel Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain over the summer, neutral fans were expecting the Ligue 1 club to be a brilliant watch all season long, but it has not been the case so far.
On Sunday against Rennes, manager Mauricio Pochettino started Messi in the no.10 role, with Neymar and Angel Di Maria on either wing and Kylian Mbappe as a striker.
The front four, on paper, are one of the best attacks in the world and more than capable of guiding a team to Champions League glory, so should have no trouble winning the French league title.
However, MNM (Messi, Neymar, Mbappe) were humiliatingly beaten 2-0 thanks to goals from Flavien Tair and Gaetan Laborde.
What makes the defeat all the more embarrassing is that PSG failed to even have a shot on target in the entire match, despite their overwhelmingly brilliant squad.
Les Parisiens had one of the best transfer windows in recent history when they brought in several world-class players on free transfers.
Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos all arrived at Le Parc des Princes for zilch, with Achraf Hakimi joining from Inter Milan for £50million and Nuno Mendes signing on a loan-to-buy.
Will PSG win the Champions League now that they have 'MNM'? Have your say in the comments below.
The defeat at the hands of Rennes was their first away league defeat in eight months, and their first of the campaign having won their first eight.
According to Opta, who have been collecting data since 2006, PSG recorded their highest tally of shots (13) without one being on target.
Via the Metro, former Spurs manager Pochettino spoke of the defeat: “Without underestimating what Rennes has done, we are frustrated and disappointed not to have taken our chances and to concede these goals.
"These situations leave us bitter and disappointed.
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“We didn’t start the game well but then we had 25-30 minutes of good quality. It was a shame not to score.
“We took two psychological hits (the goals), just before half-time (45’) and just after (46’). The match afterwards was open, even if we created chances.
“We had a hard time after that. Rennes obviously gained confidence. And with us, there was frustration.”
Poch will have time to assess PSG’s defeat over the international break before preparing for a game against Angers and then a Champions League tie versus RB Leipzig.
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