Presnel Kimpembe claims he understands the frustration and “hatred” from Paris Saint-Germain supporters on a humbling day for Lionel Messi and Neymar.
It was the French club’s first game following their humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid in midweek.
PSG came into the second leg with a one-goal lead and looked set for the quarter finals after Kylian Mbappe doubled their aggregate advantage.
But in a memorable second-half capitulation, Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick to ensure PSG’s wait for Europe’s top trophy goes on.
And when PSG hosted Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes, fans made sure to let their players know it was an unacceptable result - pointing much of the blame at forwards Messi and Neymar.
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The two South Americans were booed by the home crowd every time they touched the ball, with Neymar even jeered after scoring the second of PSG’s goals in the 3-0 win.
Mbappe, who is set to leave the club for Real Madrid at the end of the season, was spared the ire of his own supporters, thanks to his fine individual performances in both encounters.
There were also chants directed at president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and the board for the direction under their ownership.
Speaking after the win, which saw them move 15 points clear of their nearest rivals, defender Kimpembe sympathised with annoyed and disgruntled spectators.
“Inevitably we hear the whistles, even if we’re focused and concentrated on our match,” he told Amazon Prime Video. “We understand their disappointment, we understand their hatred.
“We’re professional, we know how to stay so too, and it’s now that we must raise our heads and be able to move forward in order to win Ligue 1.”
“We are all at fault, no one more than anyone else. We are a team, we must stick together through good and bad.
“It’s time to show that we have character and that we’re a team by staying united and strong together, even if it’s hard, very hard.”
Meanwhile, former Barcelona colleagues have jumped to the defence of Messi and Neymar.
“As always, football has no memories,” Suarez posted on his Instagram stories. “Always with you. I love you very much.”
Another ex-Barca teammate of the stars, Cesc Fabregas, took to Twitter to write a similar message.
“Football has no memory whatsoever…it’s a shame. Always with you brothers.”
