Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier has denied that playing Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar all together in the same side has a negative impact on the team’s balance, as the Brazilian was ruled out of today’s match at Montpellier.
PSG said Neymar is suffering from muscle fatigue and received treatment as he sat out training yesterday while the rest of his teammates prepared for the trip south following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Reims in Ligue 1. Neymar scored the opening goal against Reims but PSG conceded an equaliser deep into stoppage time as their lead over second-placed Lens remained three points.
PSG have won just one of four league games this month but Galtier rejected suggestions the presence of Neymar, Mbappe and Messi was hurting the team’s stability. “We have at PSG three incredibly strong attacking players – Kylian, Leo and Ney, with 55 goals and 34 assists since the start of the season,” Galtier said. “To say that we have to leave one of them out to be balanced is a mistake. We’ve been able to play well and be solid with all of three of them.”
PSG face a run of six games in 19 days including the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich on February 14. “January hasn’t been good and everyone needs to have it in their heads that February will be better. I have spoken to the squad, we need to get some consistency back in our performances but there are times in a season where it’s more difficult,” added Galtier.
PSG will also be without midfielder Marco Verratti, who is suspended after picking up a straight red card on Sunday just 14 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute. “We have to rediscover the right formula in midfield. We need more density and more fluidity,” Galtier explained. “We need more rigour and (must) make more efforts collectively. We used to do this in the first months of the season. Everyone needs to look into their own performances and what they are doing for the team.”
He confirmed the club was in talks to sign Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea but said no deal had yet been completed. “We will comment on the transfer window when it is closed,” said Galtier. “As for whether one, two or three players might come in, based on what I have read, the club is working hard... but I’m not going to comment on potential arrivals or departures. If there are no arrivals, there are no arrivals.”
The two clubs remain in talks, with the Moroccan international having been identified by PSG as Pablo Sarabia’s replacement after the Spanish midfielder’s departure for Wolves earlier this month.
Ziyech, who is short of game time in West London, has directly intervened in the negotiations, having told the Chelsea management to be more flexible with their terms.
The former Ajax man has made just short of a century of appearances for the Blues since his arrival in 2020, but has only featured ten times in the Premier League this season and is yet to find the net. Ziyech emerged as an option in the wake PSG’s attempts to sign Lyon midfield prospect Rayan Cherki, with ex-Bordeaux winger Malcom was also a target.