Mauricio Pochettino to blame for Lionel Messi’s PSG struggles – Angel Di Maria
FT Desk
- 7 Jun 2022 09:15 BST
- 3 min read
Angel Di Maria has criticised outgoing PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino, saying that Lionel Messi will be much better without him next season.
Pochettino is expected to be sacked in the coming days after a disappointing spell at the Parc des Princes.
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PSG won the league last season but were dumped out of the Champions League in the last-16 stage and star signing Messi failed to live up to expectations.
Messi completed a shock Free Transfer to PSG last summer after he was unable to sign a new contract with Barcelona.
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The Argentine legend broke virtually every record during over 20 years at Camp Nou, scoring an incredible 672 goals in 778 games.
READ MORE: How much does Lionel Messi earn and what is the football legend’s net worth?
However, Messi was slammed by fans and the media following a disappointing first season.
He scored just six Ligue 1 goals and performed poorly in the Champions League capitulation to Real Madrid.
Di Maria, though, believes Pochettino is partly to blame for Messi’s poor form.
"It seems like they also want [Mauricio Pochettino] to leave," Di Maria told TyC Sports.
"There will be a very big change, but I think Messi can handle it.
"It will help him to be much better next season. I think he will start very well because he ended up contributing goals, giving assists, feeling very comfortable and adapting more and more [late this past season]."
Di Maria also commented on his recent departure from PSG.
The Argentina scored and received a standing ovation as PSG beat Metz 5-0 in his final match for the club.
"There are other players who will surely leave," he said. "Mine was the easiest because they didn't have to renew me. On the one hand it hurt and on the other, it didn't.
"I left in a very special way. It was an unforgettable night, that an Argentine in another country has a farewell like mine, not everyone does it. The affection of the PSG fan, the ones behind the goal, is the most difficult thing to achieve.
"That I go outside, that they sing for me alone and made a mural for me to sign are things that remain in the memory."
Di Maria is now in talks with both Barcelona and Juventus as he aims to continue playing for a top European club.
