Mascherano: Even Messi found facing PSG 'complicated'
Even the great Lionel Messi could not manage to break down Paris Saint-Germain, as Inter Miami were dumped out of the Club World Cup.
Javier Mascherano lauded Paris Saint-Germain as he acknowledged even Lionel Messi found matters tough against the European champions.
Mascherano's Inter Miami team were hammered 4-0 by PSG at the Club World Cup on Sunday, as Luis Enrique's team cruised into the quarter-finals.
PSG scored all four of their goals in the first half, with Miami failing to even register a shot prior to the interval.
Miami, spearheaded by former PSG attacker Messi, improved after the restart, having eight attempts, getting three on target, and accumulating 0.43 expected goals (xG).
Messi had four of those shots, while he also set Luis Suarez up for a brilliant chance that the Uruguayan squandered.
"I think Leo played a great game with the few opportunities we had," Mascherano told DAZN.
"We played a lot more on the counter-attack in the second half. I think that today, at 38 years old, it's an honour to coach [Messi].
"But against a PSG at this level, even for a Messi, it's complicated."
On PSG, and Luis Enrique, who Mascherano worked under at Barcelona, the Miami boss said: "They're a great team. We'll see if they can last. But today, they have quality with a great coach.
"I'm not going to go back on the relationship I have with him. I hope they are like Barcelona and play at this level for a long time. We'll see over time."
While Miami came unstuck against Europe's best team, Mascherano is proud of his side's progress at the tournament.
"We could see the difference between the teams, but we a very proud of the guys. They were working hard, they tried to play, but the difference is like this," he said.
"We have to move forward, we have to look forward. This tournament was a very, very great experience for us.
"In the end, the most important thing is that we worked hard and played well throughout this tournament.
"We knew today was going to be very, very difficult against the best team in the world, but in the second half, we tried to play our game, which was good."
PSG have conceded just once in their last six matches in all competitions, and Luis Enrique is thrilled with how his team are performing.
He told DAZN: "I think we started the match almost perfectly, we created a lot of chances. We were excellent in the first half.
"In the second, we had less energy, it was different. But I'm happy. I'm delighted with all the players, their mentality, their attitude."
