Bruges-PSG: Belgian goalkeeper "humble" against Messi, "the biggest star in the world"

Those concerned were not surprised.

Most of the Brugge FC pre-match press conference on Tuesday at the Jan-Breydel stadium revolved around PSG and Lionel Messi.

Especially with the presence, alongside coach Philippe Clement, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

At 33, the Belgian international is preparing to be the first to face the trio Messi - Mbappé - Neymar.

From then on, he easily understands being assailed by questions about his opponent.

“It's normal, he smiles, we are not playing only against PSG, but also against the biggest star in the whole world.

"

Very relaxed, the goalkeeper who played for six years at Liverpool (2013-2019), does not hide that it will be "difficult to keep zero", that is to say not to concede a goal.

"But anyway, as I always say: you can't keep zero on your own."

We worked to find a way to defend together and also to find a plan to hurt them.

"

Read also Bruges-PSG: with Messi holder, but in what tactical configuration?

Mignolet recalls that this is not the first time he has played against Messi.

“I won 4-0 with Liverpool

” he smiles.

But he knows that for his team, the mission will be more complicated than against Ostend (3-0), last Friday.

“We are humble,” he emphasizes.

We know that we are playing against the strongest, we accept the challenge.

I'm proud to be on the pitch and to play against players like that, but you have to be level to try to win the game.

"

He conceded 3 goals from Mbappé two years ago

Wednesday evening, no question for Mignolet to look at the Parisians and especially Messi with stars in the eyes.

“If in the hallway you think of the opponent next to you, you've already lost the match,” he says.

A last question comes to him as to whether he has trained especially to face the set pieces struck by Messi?

“We laughed with the goalkeeper coach, he breathes.

Because we have a machine that shoots balls at the same speed as the players, but I told him that no machine could be asked to do the same thing as the biggest star in the world.

"

But if he is wary of Messi, Simon Mignolet knows deep down that he has other reasons to worry.

Two years ago, he had indeed bowed five times against Paris.

Two in front of Icardi and above all three in front of an untenable Mbappé when he had only come into play in the 52nd minute ...