Being the best player in the world has some privileges
Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier has revealed that Lionel Messi is exempt from certain tasks because he is so good.
As he prepares to come towards the end of his glittering career, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner often reserves his energy for moments of brilliance as oppose to covering every blade of grass on the pitch.
The 35-year-old was the difference for his side – who were without Kylian Mbappé and Neymar – as his stunning strike helped PSG come from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1 on Friday.
After the game, Galtier explained how he likes to utilise Messi and how he doesn’t ask for much work off the ball from him, so long as the Barcelona legend makes up for it when in possession.
Via Get French Football News, he said: “I ask the team to play for Leo and work for him.
“He must be exempted from certain tasks. His partners must redouble their efforts to recover and create movement so that he find passes, which are so rare in today’s football, in such small spaces.”
A lot has been made of the way that Messi is often spotted walking around the pitch, with some describing it as “lazy” after stats at the World Cup showed he was one of the top walkers in Qatar.
His former manager, Pep Guardiola, explained once why that is the case.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said: “He’s not out of the game. He’s involved.
“Moving his head. Right, left, left, right. He’s not running, but he’s always watching what’s happening.
“He smells who is the weak point of the back four. After five, 10 minutes, he has the map. He knows if I move here, here, I will have more space to attack.”
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