Unhappy Memories 'A Spur for Messi'

Miami coach Mascherano says legend plays better when angry, ahead of PSG reunion

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ATLANTA - Paris Saint-Germain have come to the Club World Cup as newly crowned champions of Europe, but a meeting with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the last 16 on June 29 brings back memories of unhappier times for the French club.

PSG's 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in May, which allowed them to win the Uefa Champions League for the first time, completed an incredible season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique.

It is no coincidence that they achieved their crowning glory in their first season, after shifting their focus away from signing superstar players to instead allow a brilliant coach to work with a hungry, dynamic young team.

Kylian Mbappé's move a year ago to Real Madrid followed the departures in 2023 of Neymar and Messi, in the same summer Enrique was appointed.

When PSG pounced in August 2021 to sign Messi after a cash-strapped Barcelona were unable to keep him, they logically thought the Argentinian could be the man to deliver elusive Champions League glory.

Messi, who was 34 at the time, thought the same thing.