Things have not exactly gone to plan for the record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner since making the switch to the French capital, following over two decades at Barcelona
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Lionel Messi has begun to question whether Mauricio Pochettino is up to the task of being Paris Saint-Germain manager after registering concerns over his tactics and ability to control the dressing room.
Recent reports have suggested that the Argentine superstar harbours doubts over his fellow countryman and PSG boss, despite the fact the club currently sit eleven points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
Both Messi and Pochettino have arguably underwhelmed since arriving in the French capital, though expectations are ludicrously high as a result of their expensively assembled squad.
Messi has found the net just once in the league since calling time on his 21-year spell as a Barcelona player, though he has had more joy in the Champions League while donning the colours of PSG.
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The 34-year-old is thought to believe that Pochettino’s game plan “too restrictive” and as a result fails to play to the strengths of the club’s star-studded attacking line-up of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
French outlet L’Equipe claim that those closest to Messi fear the manager does not have full control of the dressing room and in turn has lost the respect of a number of senior players.
The fact they are top of the league counts for very little in the eyes of others, who expect PSG to do their main talking in the Champions League.
As things stand, Pochettino’s men are second in their group – four points adrift of leaders Manchester City, who defeated them last time out, though both clubs are already through to the knockout stage.
With the likes of Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum and Achraf Hakimi all joining what was already a fiercely impressive squad in the summer – Pochettino is all too aware European silverware must follow.
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has only been at the helm for eleven months, yet has already faced mounting speculation over a return to the Premier League.
Pochettino’s name is constantly linked with the Manchester United managerial job on a permanent basis, though Ralf Rangnick has recently been handed the reins on an interim basis for the remainder of the campaign.
Once the German’s United contract expires come the end of the season, Pochettino has been widely tipped to return to England and enjoy a stint in the Old Trafford dug-out.
Much like his manager, Messi has also been the subject of speculation, recent reports claiming he is “suffering” in the French capital and longs for a Barcelona return sooner rather than later.
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