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Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram’s half-centuries powered the home side in Lucknow

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-20253:23

Boucher and Bangar on MI’s scouting system

Half-centuries from Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh helped Lucknow Super Giants put on 203 for 8 against Mumbai Indians on Friday in IPL 2025. MI captain Hardik Pandya took a five-for for the visitors after winning the toss and choosing to bowl.Marsh survived a caught-behind chance in the first over of the game. But the bowler Trent Boult and his team-mates didn’t hear it, and the opener capitalised in a 69-run powerplay where he hit nine fours and two sixes.The introduction of left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur accounted for Marsh before a slower bouncer from Hardik reduced the in-form Nicholas Pooran’s promising start to a cameo. Rishabh Pant’s lack of form continued as he, too, fell to a slower short ball from Hardik.After going on the attack during Pant’s stay, Markram went back to playing second-fiddle with Ayush Badoni’s entry. Badoni bought some time but got going later on to post 30 off 19 balls. He was out caught behind playing the scoop a ball before the death overs began. LSG made 90 for 4 in the middle (7-16) overs.Markram reached his fifty off 34 balls, which was off the 98th ball of the innings. He fell to Hardik, who bowled two overs at the death in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. A couple of boundaries from David Miller in the final over took LSG past the 200-mark before Hardik helped himself to two wickets to complete a five-for, the first by a captain in IPL history.

KKR have to win every game hereon, while CSK will hope to find some positives as their campaign starts to wind down

Sreshth Shah06-May-20253:02

Cricinformed: KKR spinners fall flat at home

Big picture: Defending champions in a series of last stands

For the past ten days, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have lived by a simple motto: one game at a time. An away win over Delhi Capitals (DC) and a rare home win against Rajasthan Royals (RR) have kept them alive in the IPL 2025 playoffs race. With three games left, KKR must win all of them to reach 17 points, and even then, qualification isn’t guaranteed.While questions remain over their middle-order depth and the use of the fourth overseas slot, KKR have started to turn the tide from difficult situations. In Delhi, it was Sunil Narine’s double-wicket over that halted Faf du Plessis’ momentum and triggered a DC slide. Against RR, Andre Russell dragged them from a stuttering batting effort to a winning total, if only by one run in the end. Varun Chakravarthy continues to pose threats with the ball, while the openers are finding their synergy.Related

• Fleming: Mhatre has 'everything that we like about a modern-day T20 player'

• CSK sign Urvil Patel as a replacement for injured Vansh Bedi

• IPL 2025 playoffs scenarios: Seven teams fighting for four spots

But as the finish line starts to get visible, so does the pressure. And now come MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It will be visible in the crowd when the yellow matches the purple presence. Their narrow two-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) showed that they’re not down and out just yet in terms of competing. And as five-time champions, they’d be desperate to bring some respectability to their campaign as it starts to wind down.When these two teams met earlier in the season, it was a one-sided affair as CSK managed just 103 for 9 in a game where Narine dominated with both bat (44) and ball (3 for 13). At Eden Gardens, the battle between the slow bowlers could once again prove decisive with quality spinners on both sides, although form isn’t on the side of the CSK pair.The motivations for both sides are vastly different – which narrative will succeed?

Form guide: CSK keen to avoid a fifth straight L

Kolkata Knight Riders WWLLW

Chennai Super Kings LLLLW

The big question

Who should KKR’s fourth overseas player be? Rovman Powell has muscle but has batted too low at No. 8. Moeen Ali as a floater hasn’t given them much while his offspin is rather dependent on match-ups. With a young opening pair expected for CSK, is it prudent to bring in the pace of Anrich Nortje or Spencer Johnson instead?

In the spotlight: Ayush Mhatre and Ajinkya Rahane

Ayush Mhatre, only 17, played a sensational knock for CSK against RCB, missing his century by only six runs. What stood out was his intent. This has been something CSK have sorely lacked this season, especially in the powerplay (run rate of 8.1, the worst of all teams) and his emergence is a silver lining as he strikes at 189 this season in the first six overs, the highest of all players (min. 50 balls) The dimensions in Kolkata aren’t too different from Bengaluru, and he’s got confidence on his side.4:07

Mukund suggests CSK swap Conway in for Curran

Another Mumbaikar, Ajinkya Rahane has been red-hot in the powerplay too, with his own strike-rate of 185 the third-best. Against pace, he has averaged 104.5 too, but has struggled against spin. His strike-rate against spin is only 115 and he averages only 16.9. Rahane has been dismissed by Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Riyan Parag in his last three outings, and will have to up his game against spin if KKR are to avoid another middle-overs performance like the RR game.

Team news: Rinku fit for CSK clash

KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit said that Rinku Singh is fit after picking up a niggle against RR. Moeen Ali could keep his place as the floater who bowls offspin. Russell’s batting position will be worth keeping an eye on.Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Moeen Ali, 10 Harshit Rana, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav AroraCSK have brought in Urvil Patel as a replacement for Vansh Bedi, and there’s no reason he can’t get a debut right away. The Gujarat batter was the highest six-hitter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25. He also smashed a 28-ball hundred, the joint second-fastest in T20 cricket. However, he is an opener, so CSK will have to decide between giving him an opportunity or keeping the faith in Shaik Rasheed.Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Ayush Mhatre, 2 Urvil Patel/Shaik Rasheed, 3 Sam Curran, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Ravindra Jadeja, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Deepak Hooda, 9 Khaleel Ahmed, 10 Noor Ahmed, 11 Anshul Kamboj, 12 Matheesha Pathirana

Pitch and conditions: Win toss, bat first?

The team batting first has won four of the five completed games this season at the Eden Gardens. The average first-innings score has been 203. The surface, at a glance, looked set to continue the trend of 200+ scores, although there are some concerns of rain, as has been the case all week. This is the same surface as the one where Punjab Kings scored 201 for 4 in a washed-out game.3:35

KKR discover Russell the disruptor

Stats and trivia: Dhoni vs spin

• This season, KKR have the best economy among spinners (7.6) and the most wickets (31). On the other hand, CSK have lost the most wickets to spin (32) and have the lowest strike-rate (124)
• However, both Narine and Chakravarthy have struggled at home while bowling first. Narine is yet to take a wicket while Varun has taken only one in three first-innings performances
• Dhoni has a strike-rate of only 52 against Narine. Against Chakravarthy, Dhoni averages only four runs per dismissal at a strike-rate of 63.
• KKR’s pacers have struggled at home with a much higher economy (11.1 vs 9.3) and average (35.2 vs 23.6) compared to away games.
• Jadeja has completed his quota in only one game this season. Noor has taken only five wickets in his last six games.

Quotes

“In T20 games, I always believe that no team can be taken easily and nobody can be above the game. Obviously, our confidence level, we need to continue with that, instead of thinking of our opposition’s confidence level.”
KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit on suggestions that downtrodden CSK are an easy opponent“It won’t be a complete change in tactics. There are many ways to skin the cat. Adversity will not define us as a team.”

He shared a second-wicket stand of 109 with Zak Crawley before bad light stopped play early

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay03-May-2025Kent skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond led his side’s fightback by posting his first red-ball hundred in over a year on the second day of their Rothesay County Championship clash against Middlesex at Lord’s.Bell-Drummond, who averaged single figures this season going into Kent’s second innings, finished unbeaten on 103 as his side progressed to 226 for 4 – a lead of 117 – when bad light ended play.He shared a second-wicket stand of 109 with England’s Zak Crawley, who was dropped at second slip off Dane Paterson on three and recovered to score 68, his third half-century of the season.Middlesex failed to gather any batting bonus points earlier in the day, with Ryan Higgins top-scoring on 54 as they lost their last six wickets for 61 and were bowled out for 238.The home side began the day with a 29-run advantage and Higgins soon advanced to his second successive half-century, swishing George Garrett through the vacant second slip region for four.But, having stretched their overnight partnership to 81, Higgins and Ben Geddes departed within the space of three balls – Joey Evison judging a catch in the deep perfectly to remove Geddes before Garrett castled Higgins with a beauty that hit the top of middle stump.It needed a robust stand of 42 between Jack Davies and Toby Roland-Jones to extend the hosts’ lead into three figures as Davies pulled Evison for the game’s first six and struck Matt Parkinson for successive boundaries.However, the leg-spinner tempted Davies to drive again, pouching a return catch that sandwiched Evison’s dismissals of Roland-Jones and Henry Brookes to wrap up Middlesex’s innings.That left Kent to negotiate five overs before lunch – and Crawley was fortunate to do so, his third delivery looping off a leading edge to fall just short of point before Sam Robson spilled the chance to dismiss him in the next over.Robson made amends by snapping up Ben Compton’s edge at head height off Roland-Jones, but that was Middlesex’s sole success until mid-afternoon as the clouds dispersed and the visitors capitalised on the improved batting conditions.Bell-Drummond gradually settled into the groove, pulling a short ball from Brookes to the rope to raise his 50 partnership with Crawley, who adopted a merciless approach towards anything wide from the seamers.The 27-year-old drove confidently on both sides of the wicket, dispatching a loose delivery from Higgins to the cover fence to reach his third half-century of the campaign from 62 balls as Kent wiped out their first-innings arrears.Paterson finally achieved the breakthrough, bringing one back down the slope to pin Crawley on his back leg shortly before Bell-Drummond passed 50, hammering a Roland-Jones half-volley to the boundary.Tawanda Muyeye fell soon after tea, lbw prodding at Higgins and there was a scratchy start for Jack Leaning, caught on the shoulder by a ball from Roland-Jones that reared up just after his inside edge had zipped narrowly over the stumps for four.Leaning’s innings ended when he skied an attempted pull to mid-on before his successor as Kent captain chalked up a 19th first-class century from 168 balls – albeit in untidy fashion, slicing Paterson just over the slip fielder’s head for four.That boundary came just in time for Bell-Drummond, with umpires Rob Bailey and Anthony Harris taking the teams off the field three balls later.

Allrounder snaps up six-wicket haul to condemn visitors to heavy defeat

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-May-2025Matthew Waite’s career best figures propelled Worcestershire to a rampant three-day victory over Essex in the Rothesay County ChampionshipThe home side rallied to 134 all out at Visit Worcestershire New Road, with Ethan Brookes’ valuable 38 the standout knock, setting Essex 336 to win the game. They were then blown away as Waite did the bulk of the damage with 6 for 19, enabling Worcestershire to claim a 225-run win.Worcestershire’s crucial victory keeps them in touch of the sides around them as the scrap in the bottom-half of Division One continues.After resuming day three on 58 for 5, the hosts began the morning session looking to add to their overnight lead of 259. Essex capitalised on a slow Worcestershire start, however, with Simon Harmer and Shane Snater sharing three wickets inside the first hour to reduce the hosts to 80 for 8.That brought Brookes to the crease, who, with a canny supporting role from Waite, eased his way into proceedings. Brookes expressed himself, those in Worcestershire colours cheering every run added, as together they stretched the lead past 300.Evergreen pro Harmer (21-5-37-4) returned the best figures for Essex, Snater and Jamie Porter claiming three apiece, as the home side closed out their innings on 134.Set an unlikely 336 to win, Essex’s chase fell apart, stumbling from 34 for 0 to 47 for 5. Charlie Allison and Noah Thain shared the highest score, each scoring 23, but on a dismal Essex card, only two other batters could muster double-figures as they were bundled out for a measly 110.Dean Elgar was the first to go for just 9, as he feathered an edge through to keeper Gareth Roderick off a rising Ben Allison ball. Just one run separated the wicket of Elgar and his opening partner Allison, when the impressive Waite accounted for his wicket in the same fashion.Tom Westley’s struggles continued when he was pinned in front by a nip-backer from Yadvinder Singh, and the Worcestershire bowlers tightened their grip further on the contest when Waite extended his fine form to remove Robin Das, who had failed to trouble the scorers for a ten-ball duck.When Waite bagged his sixth wicket of the match, the away side were left spiralling towards a heavy defeat, with Michael Pepper accounted for.Only two-overs into his spell, a loose Matt Critchley drive opened the door for Brookes to sneak through and grab a faint edge on the way into the gloves of Roderick, with a delivery that jagged back enough to ensure his keeper collected his eighth catch of the match.Waite, the stand-out performer across the match, grabbed the headlines as he collected the wickets of Snater, Harmer and Porter on his way to returning career best match figures of 9 for 53.Victory for Worcestershire saw them close the gap on the rest of the pack at the foot of the Division One table, while Essex will make the journey home knowing a trip to The Oval awaits them on Friday.

Europe's top sides have had a busy few months upgrading their squads for this season. Here are the top deals based on value and quality

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  20Daley Blind | Manchester United to Ajax | £14m

  He left Ajax for Manchester United as a four-time Eredivisie champion and returns four years later with Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners' medals added to his collection. Ajax, meanwhile, have won nothing since his departure and are desperate to put an end to that dry spell this season. 

  The 28-year-old looks more refined and commanding at centre-back and will prove a great partner for golden youngster Matthijs de Ligt while his experience is going ot be vital to their Champions League campaign.

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  19Radja Nainggolan | Roma to Inter | £21m

  "He is the turbine we were missing from our engine," Luciano Spalletti said of Inter's €24 million (£21m/$28m) signing from Roma.

  The 30-year-old established himself as one of the best midfielders in Italy over his spells at Cagliari and Roma, but no longer felt important in the capital city.

  The Belgium international still has a lot to offer, however, and he has reunited with a coach who knows exactly what to expect in ex-Roma boss Spalletti.

  "He can do well. He has the character to go against any opponent," he added. "He is a ninja. He fights with everyone on any field."

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  18Stefan de Vrij | Lazio to Inter | Free

  The Dutch defender has already emerged as a leader at Inter amid their poor start to the season.

  De Vrij has already opened his account as he helped his team to a 2-2 draw against Torino, is a good ball-winner and has always been adept at distributing from defence.

  After playing over 100 games for Lazio, he is already settled in Italy, making him a great free signing for the San Siro outfit.

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  17Fabinho | Monaco to Liverpool | £39m

  The 24-year-old midfielder has been kept out of the Liverpool team so far by Georginio Wijnaldum, but coach Jurgen Klopp had warned that a gradual transition may be required despite Fabinho's £39 million ($52m) price tag.

  "It is about players understanding the position and who else is available as well – otherwise Fabinho would have been involved in the squad, as he was in the first week," Klopp said.

  "That is it. It is different football to what he is used to but he is improving already with big steps. I can see that in the sessions and that is cool.

  “Fabinho is used to playing at a high level in France. It is not about who we play but about how we play. For sure it is not nice for a new player. It never was but it is all fine.”

  Fabinho proved himself as a reliable and versatile midfielder over five years at Monaco, scoring 23 goals and setting up eight in 167 Ligue 1 appearances and will likely have a big say alongside Naby Keita when he makes his entrance.

Klopp's sprint onto the pitch at Anfield is just the latest among a number of memorable celebrations by coaches

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  Jurgen Klopp vs Everton | December 2018

  Klopp is known for his enthusiastic touchline celebrations, but he normally (just about) keeps his cool when his team scores. All control went out the window, however, when he ran onto the field in a moment of madness after Divock Origi scored an iconic 90+5 goal against Merseyside rivals Everton in the Premier League.

  Having apparently lost his head at the goal, Klopp sprinted onto the field – forgetting, apparently, that he was a coach and not a player – to hug goalkeeper Alisson in glee. After a few seconds, however, he seemed to be aware of his actions and promptly returned to the side of the pitch, apologised to Marco Silva and was given a warning and a fine.

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• Jose Mourinho vs Barcelona | April 2010

  After Inter knocked out Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2010, Mourinho went wild, sprinting down the touchline and onto the pitch, celebrating with the rest of his staff and players in front of the Catalan side.

  There could be a whole article dedicated to Mourinho's over-the-top celebrations, but this one was memorable considering that his Inter had out-matched Guardiola's free-flowing Barcelona side – and the Portuguese boss ended up winning the Champion League with Inter that year.

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  Jose Mourinho vs Manchester United | March 2004

  While Mourinho's excessive celebrations against Barcelona are among his most memorable, another unforgettable moment is when he celebrated with a classic knee-slide at Old Trafford when his Inter team beat Manchester United in 2004 to secure an unlikely place in the Champions League last 16.

  It was the game that he introduced himself to the football world and the first time he made a major mark on the beautiful game – Costinha scored a dramatic late winner that gave Porto a victory to win 3-2 on aggregate after it looked like the Red Devils would be going through on away goals.

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  Alan Pardew v Fulham | April 2013

  Alan Pardew had been relegation-threatened with Newcastle for a few seasons, so when the Magpies secured their status in the Premier League for the following season with a win over Fulham in 2013, Pardew couldn't hide his ecstasy – and celebrated the only way he knew how, which was by running into the fans in the stands behind them and embracing them jubilantly.

The Blancos top Deloitte's list for a record 12th time, with last year's leaders Manchester United dropping to third

In the new era where transfer fees of £50 million or more are spent on a regular basis, money is everything in football.

There is no doubt that clubs can buy success in the beautiful game but with the advent of Financial Fair Play, they have to bring in money in order to spend it.

Here are the 20 clubs with the highest revenue in the world, according to the Deloitte Football Money League from the 2017-18 season. 

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  20West Ham United | €197.9m | 2016-17 position: 17th

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  19Newcastle United | €201.5m | 2016-17 position: N/A

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  18AC Milan | €207.7m | 2016-17 position: N/A

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  17Everton | €212.9m | 2016-17 position: 20th

Barcelona have made transfers worth over €2 billion and it's fair to say things didn't always go according to plan!

It's probably fair to say Barcelona's behaviour in the transfer market has led to some frowned eyebrows across the world.

Financial problems made it hard for the Catalans to register new players recently, yet at the same time they were spending large amounts on new, high-profile players.

Just in the summer of 2022 alone they brought in the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha for significant sums.

Their willingness to spend big is not necessarily new, though, even if it's not always been the most successful approach.

Just think Philippe Coutinho. Expensive star signing not too long ago, Aston Villa player now. Or Antoine Griezmann. Another expensive star signings. Another player now plying his trade elsewhere again.

In short, Barcelona's transfer activity has been hit and miss.

Barcelona most expensive transfers by season

*All figures are taken from Transfermarkt unless stated otherwise.

Barcelona's top 10 most expensive player signings

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  10Ferran Torres | €55 million/£49.50 million | Manchester City | 2021

  Ferran Torres was the first big-money signing made by Xavi, with Barcelona paying €55 million (£49.50 million) to Manchester City to acquire his services.

  The former Valencia man was considered surplus to requirements by City manager Pep Guardiola and his move was made official in January 2022, when he signed a five-year contract with Barca.

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  9Raphinha | €58 million/£52.20 million | Leeds | 2022

  Raphinha was part of Barcelona president Joan Laporta's revolutionary summer transfer window of 2022.

  The Catalan giants were desperate to strengthen their right wing and Raphinha, who netted 11 times for Leeds United in the 2021-22 season of the Premier League, was deemed the perfect fit.

  Leeds had no other option but to cash in on the Brazilian winger following his desire to move on, with Barcelona beating competition from Chelsea and Arsenal when they agreed to pay a fee of €58 million (£52.20 million) to sign him.

• Reprodução/Twitter FC Barcelona
  

  8Miralem Pjanic | €60 million/£54 million | Juventus | 2020

  Part of an "accounting" transfer designed by Barcelona and Juventus in 2020, Miralem Pjanic and Arthur swapped teams at an inflated price in order to balance the books for both clubs.

  Just one year after his move to the Camp Nou, the Bosnian joined Besiktas on loan, and he ended his troubled time at the Catalan club permanently in the summer of 2022 following a free transfer to UAE based Sharjah FC.

  Pjanic made 30 appearances for Barcelona, playing just 1,296 minutes in his time there.

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  7Zlatan Ibrahimovic | €69.50 million/£62.55 million | Inter | 2009

  Back in 2009, Barcelona decided to go big in the transfer window when they set their eyes upon Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

  They paid an eye-watering €69.50 million (£62.55 million) for the striker, but things quickly turned sour for the Sweden legend.

  He fell out with then manager Pep Guardiola, thus losing his place in the starting XI.

  Despite that, Zlatan enjoyed a decent goal-scoring record with 22 goals in 46 games for Barcelona, winning the Club World Cup, La Liga, UEFA Super Cup and two Spanish Super Cups along the way.

  After loaning him to AC Milan for a season in 2010, Barcelona sold him to the Italian giants for €24m (£21.60m).

The Reds are expected to give chances to a host of talented youngsters in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday

It's that time of year again. The time when Liverpool look to unleash a few of their talented teenagers on the world.

The early rounds of the Carabao Cup represent the perfect opportunity for that. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Caoimhin Kelleher and Harvey Elliott all earned their stripes that way, while last season saw the likes of Kaide Gordon, Conor Bradley and Tyler Morton given chances to shine.

Liverpool, of course, went on to lift the trophy, but we can expect a youthful Reds side as they begin their defence of it against League One outfit Derby County at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Here, GOAL takes a look at some of the youngsters who are likely to be involved…

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  Fabio Carvalho

  Reds fans already like what they have seen from the 20-year-old, who joined from Fulham in the summer, in a deal which could eventually cost the Reds around £8 million ($9.2m).

  Carvalho has scored twice in the Premier League for Liverpool, including a memorable late winner against Newcastle in August, and has racked up 14 appearances in all competitions.

  A lovely footballer to watch, blessed with excellent touch and balance, as well as an eye for goal, the Portugal Under-21 international is almost certain to start against Derby.

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  Calvin Ramsay

  Another summer signing, Ramsay has had to wait to launch his Reds career, picking up a back injury, which medics believe is linked to a growth spurt, shortly after his £4.5m ($5.2m) switch from Aberdeen in June.

  The 19-year-old has had a handful of run-outs with Liverpool's U21 side in recent weeks, however, and made his senior debut as a late substitute against Napoli earlier this month.

  Signed to provide back-up and competition to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back, the young Scot should get his first chance to really show what he can do against Derby.

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  Stefan Bajcetic

  "Sometimes the academy gives you a present, and he is one of them!" Assistant manager Pep Lijnders could hardly have sounded more enthusiastic when asked by GOAL on Tuesday about Bajcetic's development at Liverpool.

  The 17-year-old has been a regular with the first-team this season, appearing off the bench in both the Premier League and Champions League after catching the eye with Jurgen Klopp's squad in pre-season.

  Bajcetic, already an U19 international with Spain, has played as a centre-back but is seen by Liverpool as a holding midfielder, and one of serious potential too. "Stefan is a joy to watch," says Lijnders. "He has all the characteristics we search for as a midfield player."

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  Bobby Clark

  Another who has spent plenty of time around the senior squad this season, 17-year-old Clark made his Premier League debut in the thrashing of Bournemouth in August, and has been one of the standout players in the Reds' UEFA Youth League side.

  His father, Lee, played in the Premier League for Newcastle and Fulham, and his son looks to be a chip off the old block; a versatile, energetic attacking midfielder who presses well, keeps possession and is capable of both scoring and creating goals.

The Argentine has a big call to make because he looked nothing like the player that illuminated the 2022 World Cup in Wednesday's loss at Bayern

Lionel Messi is finished, apparently.

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In the eyes of some supposed experts, the Argentine's anonymity in Paris Saint Germain's tame Champions League loss at Bayern Munich offered irrefutable evidence that he can no longer cut it at the highest level.

It seems the 2022 World Cup has already been forgotten.

Although not by Jerome Rothen, which is precisely why he was so infuriated by Messi's lacklustre display at the Allianz Arena.

“The joke is that we saw his matches in Qatar, I saw his movements, how he invested himself," the former France and PSG winger fumed on RMC Sport.

"And I don't mind that, considering it's the national team jersey, a separate thing, but hey, respect the club in the capital a little, the one which allows you to maintain a status and salary.

"Only PSG could give him all of that and, obviously, PSG fell at his feet because they thought Messi was going to help us win [the Champions League]. But he doesn't win us anything!"

Now, is it solely Messi's fault that PSG made such a meek exit from this season's tournament? Not at all.

There are deep-rooted issues at PSG, who are paying a heavy price on the pitch for their obsession with expensive superstar signings.

But let's be brutally honest here, Messi is part of the problem. His salary is indeed gargantuan and Rothen is right to wonder if that money might be better spent elsewhere.

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  Why is a state-backed super-club so short on cover?

  As David Ginola, another former PSG winger, pointed out to Canal+ in the aftermath of the Allianz Arena debacle, "Individual talents alone are not enough to win the competition. You need a solid midfield and depth on the bench."

  PSG have neither, which Galtier alluded to in his post-match conference. Injuries have undeniably hit them hard, which is wholly unsurprising – and yet absolutely shocking.

  How is it that a state-backed super-club like PSG is so short on cover?

  They brought Juan Bernat, Nordi Mukiele, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Warren Zaire-Emery and Hugo Ekitike off the bench on Wednesday night.

  Bayern, by contrast, were able to introduce Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Sadio Mane and Joao Cancelo.

  Questions, therefore, need to be asked of Al-Khelaifi & Co, and what exactly they are doing with the bottomless well of oil money at their disposal.

  However, Messi also needs to take a long, hard look at himself and figure out why he's at the Parc des Princes – and whether he should really even consider extending his stay.

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  The worst decision of Messi's career

  When he was first unveiled as a PSG player in 2021, he stated, "My dream is to win the Champions League once more and I think Paris is the best place to do so."

  He couldn't have been more wrong on that front, though. Less than two years on, PSG are further away from winning the tournament than when he joined and his presence is a contributing factor to the club's current malaise.

  Buying into the fundamentally flawed PSG project was undoubtedly the worst decision of Messi's career – and that's saying something given we're talking about a man that once took Josep Maria Bartomeu at his word.

  One can obviously understand the appeal of Paris.

  PSG were willing to pay him what he wanted monetarily, while they were also offering him the chance to once again line out alongside his good friend Neymar – as well as the most exciting young talent in world football, Kylian Mbappe.

  It should have been fun; it's been anything but.

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  'In the matches that matter, you disappear!'

  By his own admission, Messi endured a difficult first year in the French capital, for a variety of reasons, from traffic congestion to contracting Covid-19.

  His struggles off the field, unsurprisingly, resulted in poor performances on it. The net result was that he even ended up being booed by PSG supporters.

  This season has been better but, as Rothen has already alluded to, the suspicion among the fans is that Messi's improvement during the first half of the season was fuelled by his desire to arrive in Qatar fit and firing on all cylinders.

  Since then, he's been playing with even greater freedom, with the burden of winning the World Cup having been finally lifted from his shoulders, while Messi has also revealed that he now feels more "at ease" in Paris.

  That has come as little consolation to the likes of Rothen, though.

  "Messi doesn't want to get involved in this club," he claimed. "He says he's acclimatised now, but what are you acclimatised to?!

  "You scored 18 goals or 16 assists this year against Angers and Clermont? But in the matches that matter, you disappear!"

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  Messi back to Barcelona…

  Again, Messi wasn't the only player to go missing against Bayern, a team that as Mbappe pointed out have been "built to win the Champions League".

  By contrast, PSG's owners have merely constructed a club with flimsy foundations utterly incapable of supporting the weight of three superstars and their colossal salaries.

  However, it's also fair to argue that Messi isn't as invested in PSG as they are in him.

  And that's hardly surprising. We know that he didn't want to leave his beloved Barcelona. We know they're still his club. We know Camp Nou is stil his home. Xavi has even said that publicly.

  So, if Messi does want to continue in European football beyond the end of the season, a return to Camp Nou is really the only move that makes sense for him, both from a sporting and personal perspective.

  He'll be offered more money to stay at PSG – and maybe even from elsewhere, with moves to MLS and Saudi Arabia being mooted at the moment.

  But financial considerations shouldn't even be a factor in Messi's thinking right now.

  Indeed, if he's mulling over remuneration, it should only be while attempting to work out how much he needs to lower his wage demands to make the move economically viable for a still cash-strapped Barca.

  Because if he's motivated by money at this stage of his career, he should just continue picking up a pay cheque from PSG – or join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.

  That's his prerogative, of course. Messi's a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. He's earned the right to do whatever he thinks is best for him and his family.