Seven more were missing and Galtier decided to take Messi off the pitch. (EFE / EPA / Yoan Valat)
Thanks to Mbappé’s brace, Paris Saint Germain defeated Juventus 2-1, and started off on the right foot in this new edition of the Champions League. The truth is that Messi ended a decent match in which he alternated between good and evil, but once again it was a novelty. This time, by decision of the coach, Christophe Galtier.
And that’s it, when there were only seven minutes to close and the Parisians were approaching night for a goal from McKennie with which the Old Lady had come within a shot of the equalizer, the French DT kicks the scoreboard. Galtier called Spaniard Carlos Soler, who was warming up next to the substitutes’ bench, and the fourth mate’s electronic poster read number 30. Yes, the one who retired was Messi.
Galtier did it against Monaco, against Toulouse and now against Juventus: Leo has appeared in three of Paris Saint Germain’s last four games. But this Tuesday had an advantage, as Rosario was not replaced in a Champions League match since 21 October 2014, in a match between Barcelona and Ajax that ended with a 3-1 victory for the Catalans, and which was also for the stages in groups.
It took exactly 3,242 days – more than eight years old – in order to cut Leo’s unprecedented streak in the highest club competition in Europe. In that 2014 match, Rosario’s man was replaced by Munir El Haddadi. Today Soler, one of the rookies, took his place. The truth is that Christophe Galtier is once again under the microscope, and the Parisian audience sided with Lionel.
Applause rained down from the stands of the Parc des Princes for the Argentine, who once again came out with a frown. Days ago, after the first controversy against Monaco, Galtier justified himself: “We’ll need to make sure we’re in top shape to be efficient too.. Here we work a lot with our medical, performance and physical departments to always present a high performance team, with a very tight schedule“.
And, if the French manager is right about anything, he is on the tight schedule. PSG still has two full weeks of football and the DT needs all its soldiers. At that press conference, he added: “There will be a cut after our match in Lyon on September 18, but there is a cut from three to four players because all the other players on the team will be on the national team. they will not have field until November 13 and then they will leave for the World Cup “.
“That’s why I talk so often with my players to agree not to start at the beginning in a game or to agree to leave before the end.because it can be a season with 70 games, and a season with 70 games, so long, it will be the first time they have it “, had closed Galtier, who despite the justifications does not stop surprising for his decisions.
Now, the Parisian team is setting their sights on Stade Brestois, their rival this Saturday. They will compete at the Parc des Princes, in the continuity of the seventh round of Ligue 1. PSG comes to this game unbeaten, with 16 points out of 18 possible, and share the pinnacle of the French league with Olympique de Marseille. Against Stade Brestois he will try to be the only leader. Will Leo complete the 90 minutes?
Source: Clarin
