Coach Galtier spoke out amid speculations that Messi and Mbappe’s relationship was fractured after the confrontation in the 2022 World Cup final.
Messi won the World Cup for the first time with Argentina when he defeated France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 3-3 draw in 120 minutes.
Argentina’s No 10 captain shone with a brace, while Mbappe became only the second player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
Despite the sadness of losing the match, Mbappe returned to training with PSG less than three days after the final in Qatar. The striker welcomed the age of 24 on December 20, will play in the match PSG against Strasbourg in the round of 16 of Ligue 1 tonight, at 3 am on December 29.
Meanwhile, Messi is still in his hometown of Argentina relaxing with his family, will not return to PSG until after the new year 2023.
There have been speculations about Messi and Mbappe’s relationship changing for the worse after they competed in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, but head coach Christophe Galtier dismissed this.
“There is no reason to disturb the relationship between Mbappe and Leo Messi. Kylian has a very good attitude after losing the 2022 World Cup final.
When you lose the battle for the throne of the world, there is reason for you to be very disappointed. Mbappe is very frustrated but he knows how to move on and behave.
He showed his class by congratulating Messi. That’s good for the club and the team.”
Coach Galtier confirmed, Messi will be in Paris at the start of the new year: “After winning the 2022 World Cup, Messi returned to Argentina for a celebratory parade, a reception and we decided to let him leave the competition. until January 1, 2023.
Messi will return to PSG on January 2 or 3 and to be ready for action I think he needs 13-14 days to get fit.”
Coach Galtier: ‘Mbappe congratulated Messi’
“I saw Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi shake hands after the game and before the trophy ceremony,” coach Christopher Galtier said at a press conference on December 27.
“Mbappe had a very exemplary attitude despite losing the game. He was very disappointed but still congratulated Messi with the highest professionalism. This is good for the club,” the PSG captain emphasized.
Speaking of Argentina’s trophy procession at home, where tango players and fans mocked Mbappe through an effigy, coach Galtier said: “I don’t want to comment on how they celebrated. That’s the story of people. Argentina. Besides, I don’t mind the actions of that goalkeeper (Emiliano Martinez – PV).”
On December 27, Paris Saint-Germain welcomed back the majority of the team’s mainstays, with the exception of Lionel Messi. After the 2022 World Cup, the Argentine superstar is still on vacation, despite the fact that Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are already prepared to compete.
The leadership of the team representing the French city has not yet been able to pinpoint a precise date for when Messi will be ready to return to play for Paris. The sportsman, who is now 35 years old, is continuing to celebrate his win of the world championship in his birthplace of Rosario, Argentina.
This is considered a privilege given to Messi by PSG because many other players who played in the 2022 World Cup final have returned to practice with the host club since the beginning of this week. Emiliano Martinez, Messi’s team-mate in Argentina, was asked by Aston Villa to return to training and be ready for the match against Tottenham on January 1, 2023.