PSG’s Lucas jokes that way to stop Messi is to ‘tie him up’

TIL Desk Sports/ Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas jokes that the only way to stop Lionel Messi is “to tie him up.” The Brazilian can afford to laugh for he doesn’t have to defend against Messi tomorrow night, when Barcelona arrives for the first leg of their Champions League match.

With a quarterfinal place at stake, PSG have only themselves to blame for landing Barcelona after finishing second in their group behind Arsenal. PSG’s quest for European success has developed a frustrating pattern, ending at the quarterfinals in the past four seasons. That led to coach Laurent Blanc being fired and replaced by Unai Emery.

Yet PSG still face the prospect of doing worse than last year unless they find a way past Barcelona. It feels like now or never for a PSG side enjoying massive investment from Qatari backers, QSI, since their takeover in June 2011. “That’s what is missing for us,” Lucas told in a recent interview. “We need to win something in Europe.”