"We lacked something as a team" - Ex-PSG star explains why Ligue 1 side didn't win UCL despite having Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mbappe

Former PSG midfielder Marco Verratti has dismissed suggestions that the French club won the UEFA Champions League after the exit of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar. He believes it is unfair to put the blame on the Frenchman, as he always turned up for the club.

Speaking to MARCA, Verratti said that Mbappe scored almost 50 goals per season during his time at the Ligue 1 club. He heaped praise on the Frenchman and said:

"It's unfair to see it that way. With Kylian, we reached the semi-finals and the final, but we didn't win it. Then there's Real Madrid, who, with fantastic players, won it many times. Anyway, I don't think PSG won it because Kylian left. Mbappe has helped the club grow a lot. The year he left, he scored nearly 50 goals, for example."

Verratti spoke about PSG's UEFA Champions League win last season and said:

"That's what makes football beautiful. It's not just about buying players and winning. That PSG team was a serious project, and they helped the club grow. Individually, we had many star players, but we lacked something as a team. And that matters a lot in today's football. In big games, star players can make the difference, but not generally."

Lionel Messi and Neymar left PSG in 2023, with the Argentine joining Inter Miami and the Brazilian sold to Al-Hilal. Kylian Mbappe left the club in 2024 for Real Madrid, after his contract at the Ligue 1 club expired.

Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar helped me develop, says Liverpool star

Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike spoke about his time at PSG, and admitted that Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar played a key role in his development. The Frenchman added that he learnt a lot from the trio and said (via SportyTV):

"For sure, in a certain way, you know, they gave me lessons in PSG. I was playing with the best player, maybe one of the best players in the history. And I just want to show that I learnt a lot from this time and that now I'm able to make a difference for my team, for my club."

Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi won the Ligue 1 title in both seasons they played together at the club. They added the Trophée des Champions in 2022, but failed to do much in the UEFA Champions League.

Edited by Sripad