Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Nicolas Anelka has claimed that the departures of Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and Kylian Mbappé haven’t made much of a difference to the club’s fortunes.
Anelka also pointed fingers at the media, holding them responsible for PSG losing their star players.
With Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé in the squad, PSG became one of Europe’s most talked-about teams. However, despite their star-studded lineup, the club failed to achieve Champions League success, leading to heavy criticism from the media.
Even after the trio’s exit, PSG’s struggles in the Champions League persist. The Ligue 1 leaders sit seven points clear at the top of their domestic league but are ranked 25th in the Champions League league-phase standings.
Sharing his thoughts on the situation, Anelka commented (via World Soccer Talk):
“You criticized PSG’s big stars, but now that they’re gone, there’s no excitement, no TV rights interest. Nothing has changed — they dominate Ligue 1 but still struggle against quality teams in the Champions League.
“Yes, they are a team without superstars now but with some very good players. They’re still leading Ligue 1, so what more do you (the media) want? As for the Champions League, they’re not eliminated yet. Anything can happen in the remaining three matches.”