Not the dream home debut for Messi…. Star-studded PSG struggles to win against Lyon at home.
Unfamiliar scenes were seen at Parc des Princes when PSG boss Mauricio Pochetino subbed off Argentinian star Leo Messi with the match level on the scoreboard. The former Barcelona man is not used to tactical substitutions and did not look happy at coming off to be replaced by right-back Achraf Hakimi. The forward, who left Barcelona this summer, did not stop but appeared to be saying something briefly to the manager while walking past him to the bench.
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Messi hit the cross-bar with a freekick in the first half, but it was evident he was not at his best as PSG struggled to find a rhythm. Despite having a star-studded team, PSG found themselves a goal down in the 54th minute after Lucas Paqueta slotted home a cross from Toko Ekambi. But PSG managed to equalize in a controversial penalty which was converted by Neymar. Mauro Icardi came in clutch to score an injury-time winner with a perfect header from Kylian Mbappe's cross.
However, Mauricio Pochettino defended his decision to sub off Messi, saying it was not controversial.
"I think we all know we have great players in this 35-man squad; Only 11 can play, we can't play more. The decisions in the game are made for the good of the team and each player.
"These are decisions that have to be made by the coach. As for his reaction, I asked him how he was; he said he was OK. That was it. That was our exchange. Every coach thinks about that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes players like it, and sometimes they don't. At the end of the day, that's why we're here.
Even though he pulled some amazing runs and link-up plays in his first three games, being connected with the rest of the team remains something to be worked on. PSG fans are still waiting for Messi's debut goal in their colors as they prepare to face Metz on Wednesday in a League 1 match.
