Lionel Messi reveals reason behind 'hard' first PSG season

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Lionel Messi reveals reason behind 'hard' first PSG season

Lionel Messi says he feels more settled at Paris Saint-Germain after a tough first season in the French capital.

After a shocking and unexpected departure from Barcelona, the Argentina star managed only six league goals in 2021/22, having last posted a figure that low back in 2006/07 as a youngster at Barcelona.

He's been back on form this year though, contributing 13 goals and 12 assists in 21 Ligue 1 appearances to go alongside his World Cup triumph with Argentina in the winter.

Messi has now admitted he needed some time to settle after his departure from Barça.

He told PSG's in-house media: "The truth is I feel great. The first year I had a hard time adapting to Paris for different reasons.

"This season I started differently, with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of desire. [I'm] more comfortable with the club, the city and everything that Paris means."

Messi scored the opener in PSG's 4-2 win over Nantes on Saturday and needs to be on top form for their return fixture against Bayern Munich in the Champions League this week.

Bayern won the first leg as Kingsley Coman's struck in a 1-0 victory, leaving PSG needing some sort of repeat of their victory at the Allianz Arena back in 2021. PSG won a game played behind closed doors 3-2 but have a generally poor head-to-head record against Bayern, losing five of the last six games.