Mauricio Pochettino demands "respect" for Lionel Messi, Neymar

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 March 2022

Mauricio Pochettino urges Paris Saint-Germain fans to show Lionel Messi and Neymar "respect" after the pair were booed by their own supporters against Bordeaux.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has urged the club's fanbase to show "respect" to Lionel Messi and Neymar after the pair were booed in the win over Bordeaux on Saturday.

The two South Americans both failed to contribute to the 3-2 aggregate Champions League exit to Real Madrid - with Kylian Mbappe netting both goals - and have endured frustrating seasons overall.

Sections of the PSG crowd booed when Neymar and Messi's names were read out at the weekend, and the duo were also jeered when in possession of the ball, which Pochettino described as "unfair".

Speaking to Canal+ after the 3-0 triumph, Pochettino said: "No, for me it's unfair. We all deserve this anger from the fans, not just Neymar and Messi, they are two world-class players.

"They must therefore be respected. When we lose or win, it's always as a team. My feeling of the match? Very difficult. We can understand the frustration, the disappointment of our supporters.

"We feel the same and we are all together in this immense frustration of not going further in the Champions League. The whistles? It was for everyone. We are a team, we are all together. It's a really sad situation.

"The focus is to win the title. The situation is difficult, we are not going to change the past. I have to try to concentrate and win the title but also the next matches."

Neymar scored PSG's second goal against Les Girondins and now has five strikes to his name from 20 games this term, while Messi has amassed seven goals and 11 assists from 26 appearances in all tournaments.