Mauricio Pochettino has launched a strong defence of Lionel Messi, saying that demanding Paris Saint-Germain supporters have judged one of the game's greats too harshly during a difficult debut campaign at Parc des Princes.
Messi has scored only four goals as PSG eased to the Ligue 1 title with weeks to spare, while the club failed to progress past the round of 16 in the Champions League - leading to supporters airing their disgust with one of the game's most expensively assembled squads, including the 34-year-old being booed by the club's ultras..
Pochettino was last week linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur after another season in which the French side fell short of expectations in Europe but he has played down the possibility, saying that he is "100%" staying in Paris.
