Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe sends clear warning to accept bench role by manager.
The celebrity trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar have received a warning from Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier that they must accept a bench role whether they like it or not.
Neymar was benched on Saturday, three days before their Champions League debut against Juventus, when prior manager Mauricio Pochettino rarely made substitutions. Galtier took over from Pochettino.
Around the hour mark, Neymar entered the game, but in their 3-0 victory over Nantes, it was Mbappe who had to make way for his fellow forward. The France international exhibited no signs of annoyance during this time.
While he was also called back to the bench in the final minutes against Monaco and Toulouse, Messi has played the most of the three.
With a record 24 goals in their first six league games, PSG has lived up to Galtier’s warning that the team would come first when he took charge this season.
Galtier said at a news conference on Monday, “I talked about it twice—once with each of them and once with the full squad—to inform them that this is how it was going to be and that we had to have the correct attitude and accept it.
Galtier claimed there was little choice due to a busy schedule and the impending World Cup.
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You claim it’s new, but due to everyone’s extremely hectic schedule, it’s a requirement, he said.
“Every three days, then every four days, and then there comes the World Cup, we play a lot of games. Everyone must be aware that they won’t be able to participate in every game.”
Sergio Ramos received a similar relative rest versus Nantes and didn’t enter the game until the 62nd minute.
“Everyone must be prepared to participate. The team is what matters most. Both the starters and the subs are talented for us “said Presnel Kimpembe.
“We have a solid team. Everyone is aware of that. To be as effective as we can, we take advantage of one another.”
