Munetsi Not Fazed As Messi Gears Up For PSG Debut Against Reims
Zimbabwe Warriors and Stade Reims midfielder Nyasha Marshall Munetsi has revealed he will not be daunted by the presence of World Superstar Lionel Messi when his team host Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in a Ligue 1 encounter.
The 25-year-old former Orlando Pirates midfielder who has now established himself as a regular at the French Ligue 1 side, is expected to start in a blockbuster encounter where PSG star signing Lionel Messi is expected to make his long waited debut for the Ligue 1 giants.
Munetsi who is currently enjoying good form at Reims as a holding midfielder after featuring in all three Ligue 1 games played so far this season and scoring a goal, is likely to be given the responsibility to mark the world superstar if he is to be included in the match day squad.
Speaking on The Ultimate Sports Show with South African sports caster Thomas Mlambo on METROFMSA, Munetsi revealed he is not worried about Messi.
“I think for me it is not about Messi alone, but the whole squad,” Munetsi said.
“Of course he is a game changer and a big boost to have him in the team, but for me (preparation for the game) has always been trying to train good, focus and listen to what the coaches have to say when it comes to tactics.”
Reims were roasted by PSG last season in their previous fixture after a Neymar inspired side pulled off a 4-0 win against Reims.
“We got a red card in 9th minute the last time we played them. We did our best to try and manage the situation but we lost 4-0 which was not bad because other teams would get more like 6-0 in that situation,” said Munetsi
This time around Stade Reims go into the clash without a loss in the league after a commandable start where they have managed three points in three games and are hoping to upset the giants and continue with their unbeaten run.
“We have a good record playing as underdogs. Our team always performs better when playing against these big teams.
“A team like us need to play as a unit because these guys are so good individually,” explained Munetsi.
“PSG are so good and the players are like- you know when you play FIFA – they know what to do before they even have the ball. So it is always critical to be a step ahead and try to concentrate a lot and listen to what the coaches say.
I remember the last time we played, Neymar dribbling 4 to 6 players, you can’t even touch him. Mbappe as well, I am not surprised he won the world cup, he’s good. You can see the reason why these clubs pay huge amounts of money for them.”
Besides Messi, PSG signed former Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos, AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Inter Milan standout Achraf Hakimi (who also arrived from Real Madrid after his loan spell at the Serie A champions) and former Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum to add to their already star-studded side.
Stade Reims are currently on position 12 on the log with three points from three games.
Munetsi who has been included in the Zimbabwe Warriors provisional squad to play South Africa and Ethiopia next month, has already confirmed he will fly to Harare soon after the PSG encounter alongside Lyon’s Tinotenda Kadewere to join with the rest of the squad before their first match against Bafana Bafana on the 3rd of September.
