Bold statement, Michael…
Michael Owen has stated that Paris Saint-Germain are now a weaker team after signing Lionel Messi.
The Argentine made his first Champions League start for PSG on Wednesday night as the Parisians were held to a 1-1 draw against Club Brugge.
It was the first time that the attacking trio of Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar had lined-up together, but none of the newly dubbed ‘MNM’ trio were able to stamp their mark on the fixture.
When speaking about PSG’s chances of winning the Champions League for the first time in their history, Owen claimed that he doesn’t believe that Mauricio Pochettino’s side should be considered favourites to win the competition, despite their sensational attacking talent.
“As much as we drool over them, this PSG team with those forwards, they’re all phenomenal players in their own right. But three together makes it weaker for me and I don’t really understand why they’re one of the favourites for it,” the former Liverpool and England striker told BT Sport.
“I think the English teams [Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United] are far, far superior.”
As well as signing Messi from Barcelona, PSG made a number of other big name additions this summer.
Gini Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma all arrived as free agents, with Achraf Hakimi joining for £50million from Italian giants Inter Milan.
When discussing the Parisians’ summer arrivals, Owen stated that he felt the signings of goalkeeper Donnarumma and centre-back Ramos gives PSG a better chance of winning Europe’s most elite competition than the arrival of Messi does.
“I almost feel as though the signing of the likes of Donnarumma and Sergio Ramos gives them more of a chance of winning it than the signing of someone like Messi.”
Messi and the rest of PSG’s star-studded frontline will get a chance to prove Owen wrong when they host current Group A leaders Manchester City on September 28, in what promises to be a scintillating game of football.
Related links:
- Barcelona board held midnight meeting with Ronald Koeman after Bayern defeat
- Reece James has Champions League winners’ medal stolen during robbery
- Paris Saint-Germain and FFP: How PSG can afford Messi, Neymar and more
