Premier League Legend Names 3 Players Responsible for PSG's Champions League Exit

Premier League Legend Names 3 Players Responsible for PSG's Champions League Exit

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM
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  • Rio Ferdinand believes having the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi in the same team cost PSG in the Champions League
  • Mauricio Pochettino has come under fire in the wake of PSG's elimination from the European competition
  • However, Ferdinand contends the Argentine tactician is not responsible for the loss, pointing a finger at the three players

Rio Ferdinand has absolved Mauricio Pochettino from any blame following Paris Saint-Germain's elimination from the Champions League.

Despite having a significant advantage over Real Madrid, PSG surrendered their 2-0 aggregate advantage over Real to lose 3-2.

Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates his goal with Neymar Jr, Marco Verratti, Lionel Messi during the UEFA Champions League antiago Bernabeu on March 9, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by John Berry
Rio Ferdinand believes having the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi in the same team cost PSG in the Champions League. Photo by John Berry.
Source: Getty Images

The French giants picked a 1-0 win in the first leg of the last 16 tie played at Parc des Princes, before taking a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute of the second leg played at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night, March 9.

Karim Benzema masterclass sinks PSG

However, the La Liga giants staged an epic comeback in the second half of the encounter to sink the visitors.

Karim Benzema played a central role in the turnaround as he netted a sensational 17-minute hat-trick to inspire Real Madrid to a 3-1 thrilling win.

The scoreline was also enough to earn Carlo Ancelotti's men a place in the quarter-finals of the European competition as PSG were sent packing.

Rio Ferdinand blames PSG trio for UCL defeat

Ferdinand has now pointed the finger at three PSG stars in the wake of their defeat, suggesting Pochettino is not responsible.

According to the Man United icon, the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar are largely to blame for the embarrassing loss.

"You've got Mbappe, you've got Neymar, you've got Messi now in this team playing upfront. And each of those players are players that you would probably allow as a one-off in your team to be a passenger and you all work for that player," Rio pointed out.
"To have three of them makes it near on impossible to do it at the top level. You can do it and get away with it in the French league like they do every year, they win the league," he added.

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Fred Kennedy
Editor - Europe Team