Following Lionel Messi’s winner against Toulouse on Saturday, Christophe Galtier said that he asked his team to “play for” the Argentinian great.
Without Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, the French giants needed a moment of magic to get over the line after going behind to Philippe Montanier’s side.
After Achraf Hakimi equalised, it would be that man Messi to win it from range.
“Lionel Messi was a very important engine, like his goal and the situations he created,” Galtier said post-match.
“I ask the team to play for Leo and work for him. He must be exempted from certain tasks.”
He said his partners must redouble their efforts to recover and create movement so that Messi can distribute passes from such small spaces.
Messi’s limited work off the ball has come into question many times before. And while his critics are quick to call him out for it, his supporters believe it to be one of his biggest strengths. Believing that by observing the game he is able to pick out the best of passes when he does receive the ball.
PSG are now eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1. Their rivals Marseille, who they next face in the Coupe de France, are behind them in second place.
Pictured above: Lionel Messi
Image source: @RoyNemer
