PSG manager asks players to ‘play for Lionel Messi’ ahead of upcoming Champions League fixtures in Kylian Mbappe and Neymar’s absence

Lionel Messi 'carries' PSG to another League 1 Victory

PSG manager asks players to ‘play for Lionel Messi’ ahead of upcoming Champions League fixtures in Kylian Mbappe and Neymar’s absence

Messi and Galtier (image via twitter)

Paris Saint-Germain manager, Christophe Galtier, has urged his squad to “play for Lionel Messi.” These were the words of the French manager in a post-match press conference after PSG’s win against Toulouse 2-0.

Given the absence of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe due to injury, Messi rose to the occasion by netting the winning goal from long range. In order to conserve the veteran’s energy, Galtier has given Messi the freedom to concentrate solely on attacking. The coach encourages the rest of the team to compensate by working harder. “I expect the team to play for Leo and support him,” Galtier declared. “His teammates must make a concerted effort to retrieve the ball and generate movement, enabling Leo to deliver his trademark precise passes in tight spaces,” he added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBW1QptqIxQ

In recent years, Messi’s lack of off-ball activity has generated a heated debate, with some perceiving it as laziness, while others see a strategic purpose behind it. Ernesto Valverde, Messi’s former manager at Barcelona, spoke with the Financial Times and referred to Messi’s habit of remaining stationary as a “reconnaissance walk”.

FS Video

According to Valverde, who is now coaching Athletic Bilbao, Messi uses this time to assess the field and identify the positions of his opponents before gradually engaging in the game. He noted that Messi is well aware of his rivals’ weaknesses, further highlighting his exceptional ability to read the game.

At Parc des Princes on Saturday, after Toulouse took the lead, Achraf Hakimi leveled the score for the home team. In the second half, Messi secured the win with a wonder goal and narrowly missed adding another one to his goal tally.

Read more: Instagram blocked Lionel Messi soon after his 2022 FIFA World Cup win

The MNM’s: A Statistical comparison between PSG’s lethal trio Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi

Messi and Psg
The Trio of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar(Image via PSG’s twitter)

In the 2022/2023 Ligue 1 season, three of Paris Saint-Germain’s biggest stars, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, have been making waves with their performances on the pitch. According to these stats from whoscored.com.

Kylian Mbappe

To begin with, let’s take a look at the performance of 24-year-old forward, Mbappé. So far, he has appeared in 17 matches, with 2 of those appearances coming as a substitute, totaling 1472 minutes on the field. He has been in outstanding form, netting 13 goals and providing 2 assists. Additionally, he has received 3 yellow cards.

When it comes to shooting, Mbappé has been taking an average of 4 shots per game, boasting a pass success rate of 82.4%. He has won 0.3 aerial duels per game and has been recognized as the man of the match twice, with an average rating of 7.55.

Lionel Messi

Moving on, we have the 35-year-old attacking midfielder/forward, Lionel Messi. He has played 18 games in a row, without being substituted, clocking in a total of 1582 minutes on the field. He has been a key contributor to the team’s success, scoring 10 goals and registering 10 assists. This season, he has maintained a clean disciplinary record, with no yellow or red cards.

In terms of shooting, Messi has been taking 4.4 shots per game, with a pass success rate of 83.5%. Although he has not won any aerial duels which is due to his stature perhaps, he has been named man of the match 9 times and has received a rating of 8.39.

Neymar Jr

To round off, we have the 31-year-old attacking midfielder/forward, Neymar. He has participated in 16 games this season, with 2 of those appearances coming as a substitute, logging a total of 1412 minutes on the field. He has been a valuable asset to the team, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists. Unfortunately, he has received 4 yellow cards and 1 red card this season.

Regarding his performance, Neymar has been taking an average of 1.9 shots per game, with a pass success rate of 82.9%. He has won 0.1 aerial duels per game and has been recognized as the man of the match 3 times, with a rating of 7.73.

In conclusion, Paris Saint-Germain boasts three high-performing players this season: Messi and Neymar score goals and provide assists while Mbappé poses a scoring threat. Their individual skills and attributes make Paris Saint-Germain a formidable presence in Ligue 1 and in Europe with PSG facing Bayern Munch in the round of 16 of the Champions League it will be exciting to see which giant comes on top.

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