Manchester City have a convincing capital when they meet Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League continued match on Wednesday (29/9). However, PSG have a trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe (MNM).
After dealing with Barcelona, Pep Guardiola was never able to win the Champions League title. From season to season, there are roadblocks, including the figures of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar Jr who are now defending PSG.
In the 2014/2015 season, when Guardiola was still in charge of Bayern Munich, the dream of winning the Champions League title for the third time was dashed by Messi and Neymar. Bayern were crushed 0-3 in the first leg despite winning 3-2 in the second leg.
The next season, Atletico Madrid was stuck. It’s the same as the 2013/2014 season: the Spanish coach’s team lost to another Madrid team, Real Madrid. Three times Guardiola failed in the semifinals.
Anchored to Manchester City is not as easy. In the 2016/2017 season, Guardiola’s team were eliminated by AS Monaco. One of the key factors that crushed The Citizens was Mbappe, namely by contributing two goals.
Furthermore, English clubs became a scourge. In the 2017/2018 season they lost to Liverpool in the last eight, then were eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur in the same phase of the 2018/2019 season, and lost to Chelsea in the 2020/2021 season final.
Since the 2013/2014 season, the Champions League has been the 50-year-old’s nightmare. Guardiola’s wealth of strategy and genius is like no luck in the blue continent’s grandest continental event.
However, Guardiola’s achievements in the group stage of the European Champions League are quite convincing. From the 2008/2009 season to 2021/2022, Guardiola has never failed to lead his team to qualify from the group stage.
In fact, the winning percentage of the team he cares for is more than 75 percent. From a total of 78 group stage matches, Guardiola’s team lost only 11 times and drew 15, the rest ended in wins.
However, when his team met Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe, history was less in favor. Mbappe opened the nightmare with AS Monaco in the 2016/2017 season. This young man scored two goals from two meetings.
Messi and Neymar are also arguably Guardiola’s serious scourges. In the 2014/2015 season Bayern Munich failed to advance to the final after losing 0-3 in the first leg and winning 3-2 in the second leg. Messi and Neymar both scored two goals.
Furthermore, in the 2016/2017 season Messi and Neymar crushed City with a score of 4-0. Messi created a hat trick and Neymar one goal. While in the second leg Barcelona lost 1-3 but Messi contributed one goal.
Now, the three scourges of Guardiola have joined PSG. City’s impressive record for PSG, which has never lost in five meetings: two draws and three wins, could have been broken in this match.
Messi, who was previously absent with PSG due to injury, has also attended training. Although there is no certainty that the winner of the six Ballon d’Or titles will play, the chance for MNM to appear to crush City is very open.
Apart from Lionel Messi who is not yet in the best condition, the connectivity of these three strikers with special individual qualities has not been established. Mauricio Pochettino, PSG coach, has only played all three two time.
The trio appeared together for the first time against Club Brugge on 16 September. This match ended with the score 1-1 and the MNM trio did not score. Only Mbappe contributed assists.
Second was met Lyon and won 2-1. Mbappe again contributed assists, while Neymar scored one goal from a penalty. Messi? Not yet contributed goals and assists.
Messi even looked unhappy with Pochettino’s decision to pull him off in the 76th minute. The Argentine star has publicly expressed disappointment with Pochettino’s decision.
Recently, Neymar and Mbappe are said to be at odds. It happened in the match against Montpellier on Sunday (26/9). Mbappe is said to be unhappy with Neymar for not providing assist even though his position is good for scoring goals.
Once pulled out in the 88th minute, Mbappe expressed his heart to Idrissa Gueye. “He [Neymar] didn’t pass it to me,” said Mbappe, caught on Canal cameras.
This is surprising, because Neymar and Mbappe both came to PSG in 2017 and immediately became close friends. The two often compliment each other. Their relationship off the field also looks harmonious.
Small rift after small rift at PSG appeared after Messi arrived. Mbappe, for example, really wants to leave for other clubs, such as Real Madrid, but the club charges a very high price.
Because there is no middle ground, this 22-year-old youth rejected the offer of a contract extension. If until the end of this season or June 30, 2022 there is no contract extension, Mbappe is free to choose a club with a free transfer status.
These kinds of things are said to make small sparks within PSG. If this kind of thing does not end, it is not impossible that a big fire will occur, which will lead to the club’s loss.
But there are also those who say that all the drama currently created between Messi, Neymar, Mbappe and Pochettino is just a scheme. This is PSG’s way of still stealing attention in the midst of the adaptation conditions of a number of players.
With high salaries: Mbappe is around 18 million euros, Messi is 36 million euros, and Neymar is around 35 million euros, the pair of three should be deadly. If you look at history and statistics, Manchester City could be the starting point for the greatness of the MNM trio.
