Lionel Messi has fired a warning to his Paris Saint-Germain teammates in their hopes of going all the way in this season’s Champions League.
Kylian Mbappe’s last-minute winner securing a first leg victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday evening, even though Messi saw his penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois.
The Argentine superstar has now gone eight matches without scoring or providing an assist against the Spanish giants – something he will seek to rectify in the second leg.
In November, Messi landed a record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or title by scooping the 2021 accolade and he knows what it takes to win Europe’s premier club competition.
Messi has lifted the Champions League on three separate occasions but he has not even featured in a final since 2015 – and this season may signal his last true hope of adding a fourth crown.
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Paris Saint-Germain have never lifted the competition although they did fall just short in the 2020 competition, when they were edged out by Bayern Munich.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side now hold a slender lead going into next week’s return leg in Madrid but Messi has warned his teammates about what is necessary to progress.
He insisted that it was not just a case of being the best team and not making mistakes, but he emphasised the need for team unity and togetherness across the pitch.
Speaking to PSG magazine this week, Messi said: “It is difficult to win the Champions League, because it is a competition that brings together the best teams and where the smallest detail, the smallest mistake can eliminate you.
“I think we have a team that can try to win it.
“We are excited about this idea and we have high hopes of fulfilling it, but we have to take it easy.
“I repeat, it is difficult to win the Champions League. The best team does not always win.
“Great teams have to be good in all areas of the field, in all areas, both in defence and attack.
“I think that this depends on the ability of a team to play as forwards cannot limit themselves to attacking and defenders cannot limit themselves to defending.
“We must form a strong and united team both in the defensive phase and in the offensive phase.
“This is the guideline that will allow us to be a fully competitive team team that will try to win the Champions League, as well as all the titles that we are in a position to win.”
Both Messi and PSG will be looking to put their recent frustrations in the competition behind them this season but even if they do progress past Real Madrid, they face a huge uphill task.
Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are rated above PSG for taking this season’s title while teams like Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus may prove difficult obstacles.
