The Argentine coach, Mauricio Pochettino, did not give a date for the official debut of Lionel Messi in PSG and clarified that they have players who “shine on their own”, as in the case of the Argentine, but who are not yet “a team”. He also referred to the situation of Sergio Ramos, the former Real Madrid captain, who also signed for the 2021/22 season.
“We still don’t have a team, we have a team with players who shine on their own and the tremendous challenge is for these names to play as a team and behave naturally, with discipline and organization,” he said at a press conference prior to the second day of the French League against Strasbourg.
And he added: “We want a team not only in the images on (social) networks, but also in the demands of the day to day.” Pochettino answered several questions about Messi, who has just completed his second day of training. When will it debut? “You have to go step by step to make him feel good. A month ago he played the final of the Copa América, he has to make his debut in the best conditions,” he said, without giving more clues about his possible debut.
However, the club will present the player again on the lawn of the Parc des Princes, before the match against Strasbourg, along with the other four signings this summer: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum. “I have seen a very mature Messi, the player we all know,” added Pochettino.
On the reception of the footballer, he maintained that everyone has seen how impressive he has been. “It has been like the house of Big Brother, we have seen everything practically live,” he said in reference to the great media coverage of PSG for the arrival of La Pulga.
While ruling out the departure of Mbappé, Pochettino was less categorical with the Argentine Mauricio Icardi: “In football, any kind of situation can happen, but there is no reason to think that there will be no future here.” The coach did not give clues about who will start in the goal, Donnarumma or Costa Rican Keylor Navas, and said that you have to go “slowly” before deciding on a tactical drawing and making “decisions.”
And when will Ramos debut? The former merengue player is in the phase of progressive resumption of training and this Saturday he will still not be able to debut. It is expected to do so in mid-September.
.
