Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe were rivals on the pitch for the World Cup final in Qatar, but will now go back to fighting for the same cause as Paris Saint-Germain colleagues
Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi wasn’t rushed back into first-team action after Argentina’s World Cup win, but the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner showed his support for his club colleagues by watching them in action from afar.
A number of PSG’s World Cup stars were involved against Strasbourg as Les Parisiens survived a Neymar red card to win 2-1. Marquinhos scored a goal at each end before Kylian Mbappe – fresh from his hat-trick in the final in Qatar – scored a stoppage-time winner from the penalty spot.
Messi was granted a little extra time off, as has been the case with a number of his Argentina team-mates on the books of Premier League clubs. However, he shared a photo on Instagram demonstrating he was still keeping tabs on Mbappe and co as they got the job done without him.
Questions were asked about the relationship between Messi and Mbappe after another of Argentina’s victorious squad, Emi Martinez, mocked the French forward after the final. However, PSG manager Christophe Galtier played down such suggestions.
“I would focus on the relationship between them [Messi and Mbappe],” Galtier said. “It wasn’t Leo Messi winding anybody else up. What I saw after the final, what I have experienced, is there is no reason to mix these things up because the goalkeeper’s behaviour is down to him.”
“What matters to me is the relationship between the players. Kylian Mbappe had a very good attitude, despite losing. Of course, he was very disappointed, but he did that in a classy way. He congratulated Leo Messi and that is a very good thing for the club and for the team.”
PSG’s victory over Strasbourg leaves them eight points clear of second-place Lens, who face Nice on Thursday night. Galtier’s team are still yet to taste defeat in the league or Champions League, and face a blockbuster European clash against Bayern Munich in February as they seek revenge for their defeat in the 2020 final.
Mbappe spoke to the media after leading his team to three points, and was asked about what went on after the World Cup final. While he is still coming to terms with the disappointment at Lusail Stadium, the 24-year-old insisted it would not have an impact on his club’s fortunes.
“I’ll never digest it,” Mbappe said. “But like I told my coach and teammates, there’s no reason that my club should pay for a defeat with my national team, it’s two different situations.
“The message was simple – it was to show that, whatever goes on with the national team, PSG is a separate thing and I’m still determined to bring every trophy to the capital.”
Source: mirror
