Lionel Messi's performances at Paris Saint-Germain are not convincing, and the French are getting impatient.
They thought Messi would arrive and immediately start scoring goals just as he did in his long spell at Barcelona, and that they would get the opportunity to witness those wonderful skills.
But that's not happening and he is slowing.
The Argentine, now 34, is no longer at his peak. So many years at the top have worn him down, and the change of team, country, competition and teammates have negatively influenced his game. Last Friday against Lille he was forced to come off at half time due to physical concerns.
The French media is questioning what is happening to Messi, who has not scored a single goal in his five Ligue 1 matches.
The statistics are bad. Zero goals and zero assists in five games and the team, with him on the field, has scored every 110 minutes. Without him, it's just 32 minutes.
Messi didn't do pre-season and that makes settling in even tougher to adapt after changing his team and moving to another country.
The other debate is where the Argentine should play when he is alongside two more stars in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Mauricio Pochettino has yet fix to his forward tactics. The manager is concerned with building a balanced team, but catering for an attacking trio that is not interested in defending has been difficult.
The coach has put Messi on the right wing so he can run into the centre, combine with a teammate and receive the last pass to finish a move.
PSG v Lille player ratings
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PSG PLAYER RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma – 8. Made a brilliant save to deny Yilmaz within a minute and read balls through well, but could do nothing to stop David’s goal. Made superb saves to deny David and Yilmaz in the second half. AFP -
Thilo Kehrer – 5. Coming in for the suspended Achraf Hakimi, he often looked troubled defensively and was easily beaten by Yilmaz for the opener. AFP -
Marquinhos – 8. Showed moments of quality and often defended resolutely, getting some key headers and blocks on the ball. Couldn’t find the target after doing well to win a header in Lille’s box before eventually getting the equaliser. Reuters -
Presnel Kimpembe – 7. Got away with wrongly committing himself and allowing David to get past him in the opening minute. He recovered well from that and made some good interceptions and an important last-ditch intervention. EPA -
Juan Bernat – 6. Looked a little rusty at times on his first start since rupturing his cruciate ligament but was largely reliable in defence. Didn’t cause too much of a threat going forward. AFP -
Georginio Wijnaldum – 5. Made a nice pass through for Di Maria’s chance near the end of the first half but was very quiet for large periods of the first half. Getty Images -
Danilo Pereira – 6. Made a decent block to deny Xeka and displayed composure to get out of some tricky situations, but was part of the midfield that was overrun in the first half. AFP -
Idrissa Gueye – 7. He wasn’t the only one, but Gueye needed to press the ball better for Lille’s opener, while a more precise pass would have released Neymar in the first half. Moved the ball far better in the second period and contributed to some nice link up play. AFP -
Angel Di Maria – 9. Will feel he should have had an assist after a nice pass to Messi, but hit his own shot wide after doing well to get into Lille’s box. Put in another great ball for Icardi before teeing up Marquinhos for the opener. Having gone up another level in the second half, he then scored the winner. Getty Images -
Lionel Messi – 5. Played a poor ball to Neymar after nipping in to intercept Sanches’ pass and showed very little quality with his shooting before being taken shortly after half time injured. Getty Images -
Neymar – 8. His usually expressive self but lost the ball on the edge of his own box and had a threat that was largely nullified in the first half. Stepped up his game in the second period and played a superb pass for Icardi but got booked for his frustrations. Then provided a lovely touch for Di Maria to score the winner. Getty Images -
SUBS: Mauro Icardi (Messi, HT) - 6, Got involved in the game and looked to link play but missed the target with his header from Di Maria’s brilliant cross, then failed to convert from a brilliant chance in the latter stages. His presence helped to occupy Lille’s defence for the winner. AFP -
Colin Dagba (Kehrer, 65’) – 5. Had a couple of awkward moments defensively, giving away a late free kick in a dangerous area, but looked fairly good going forward. AFP -
Nuno Mendes (Bernat, 65’) – 6. Had some impressive moments when defending one-on-one but his crossing was poor. AP -
Julian Draxler (Wijnaldum, 85’) – N/R. Wasn’t on for long but was able to contribute to the winning goal’s build-up. Getty Images -
Ander Herrera (Di Maria, 93’) – N/R, Came on for the final moments after a Di Maria injury and helped see out the game. AFP -
LILLE PLAYER RATINGS: Ivo Grbic – 6. Will have been surprised that he didn’t have much to do in the first half, but the loanee gathered Neymar’s shot after initially parrying it, then stopped Di Maria. Had no chance of stopping either goal. AFP -
Zeki Celik – 6. Did brilliantly to deal with Neymar defensively in the first half but had some sloppy moments in the second period and got booked for a foul on the Brazilian in the 63rd minute. AFP -
Jose Fonte – 7. Put in a solid display and usually knew when to commit himself or allow teammates to help him deal with PSG’s threat. Made a vital block to deny Neymar. AP -
Tiago Djalo – 6. Hit a complete miskick when the ball fell to him in PSG’s box but did well to help deal with PSG’s star-studded attack in the first half – though Di Maria got behind him for his chance. Did well to ensure Kimpembe didn’t get a free header. AFP -
Reinildo Mandava – 6. Booked after five minutes when fouling Di Maria as he broke away, but didn’t allow that to stop him putting in a fairly impressive display. The left-back also provided the occasional threat going forward. AP -
Jonathan Ikone – 6. Missed the target after holding his run well to get on the end of Yilmaz’s pass, but linked play brilliantly in the build-up for the opener. Had a quiet second half before coming off. Getty Images -
Renato Sanches – 7. Made a great pass to create the chance in the opening minute, which set the tone for his first half display. The Portuguese midfielder disrupted PSG’s play brilliantly, and while there were a few passes that were off, he usually moved the ball effectively. Was booked in the 59th minute as his game regressed in the second half. Getty Images -
Xeka – 6. Made a big tackle on Neymar early on, and while that was a foul, it was an indication of how effective Xeka would be in disrupting PSG’s attacks in the first period – with special attention being paid to the Brazilian. Couldn’t have the same impact after half time. Getty Images -
Jonathan Bamba – 6. Pressed brilliantly, but wasn’t always able to make the most of the ball, just overhitting a ball over the top for Ikone. AP -
Jonathan David – 8. In the right place at the right time and finished clinically for the opener. He was also a general threat from the very start, making a brilliant burst forward in the opening minute. Couldn’t beat Donnarumma again in the second half. AFP -
Burak Yilmaz – 7. Often taking up intelligent positions on the left, the Turkey international did brilliantly to reach the byline and set up David for the opener. This came after he had a good shot saved in the opening minute. Booked in the 36th minute and incredibly unlucky to see his looping second half shot saved. AFP -
SUBS: Amadou Onana (Yilmaz, 76’) – N/R, Showed a willingness to work hard defensively but couldn’t keep up with Di Maria as the Argentine scored the winner. Reuters -
Timothy Weah (Ikone, 79’) – N/R, Immediately looked to make things happen but fired his solitary effort wide. Reuters -
Yusuf Yazici (Bamba, 90’) – N/R, Tried to make things happen but his late corner was unable to beat the first man. AFP
But that is not working well. It's not his best position and requires a lot of fitness that, at least so far, Messi hasn't had. It would be better to surround him with players willing to do the work for him.
Messi won many games for Barca while preserving his energy. In France, physical demand is high. It's very vigorous football. Neymar suffered and now Messi is having a similar experience.
The adaptation of a player who only had only known La Liga is proving to be more difficult than expected. Paris wants him to put on a show, and there is neither the time nor the patience to wait.
Messi seems isolated, with less time on the ball. Although slowing, he has to give more, become more comfortable on the field, improve his fitness and have the coach come up with the ideal system to fit in with Neymar and Mbappe.
They are in a hurry in France, but the process takes time and unless he finds the solution and the tact to deal with his three superstars, Pochettino will also start coming under a lot of pressure.
