Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar: PSG Head Coach Is Considering Dropping One Star to Improve His Team

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar: PSG Head Coach Is Considering Dropping One Star to Improve His Team

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:12 PM
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  • Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have all been put on red alert, with Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier preparing to drop one of them
  • The PSG boss is understood to have concerns about the defensive frailties of his side and believes all the three superstars shouldn't start together
  • It is a weird decision given how the three forwards have combined well this season with staggering numbers to show for it

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier is said to be preparing to make a bold decision of dropping one of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe or Neymar in his subsequent games.

Galtier wants to add another defender to his formation, which means one of his marquee forwards will have to pay way.

Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, PSG. Christophe Galtier
Paris Saint-Germain forwards Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Photo by Catherine Steenkeste.
Source: Getty Images

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In what will be seen as an extremely bold move considering the profiles of the star forwards, Daily Mail reports that Galtier is convinced that he needs to change the formation if PSG are to go far in the Champions League.

PSG have been using a 3-4-3 formation this season that has seen them remain unbeaten in all competitions so far. They have only dropped points once against Monaco in Ligue 1. The attacking trio is on an impressive run of form as they have 41 goal contributions between them so far.

Messi, Mbappe and Neymar rarely help out in the defence

But Galtier is worried about the space they often leave, given that the three rarely track back to help in defence. This has led to Vitinha and Marco Verrati being outnumbered in the midfield area in case of a counterattack. Galtier is now thinking of dropping one star and replacing him with an attacker who can drop back.

Galtier would be well aware that any star that he will drop, there will be widespread reactions and criticisms.

On the flip side, adding another defensive-minded player to the side doesn't make sense, given that Galtier plays with five defenders on paper. Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi are traditional defenders who have often been encouraged to get forward, but they can as well be used to provide cover for the trio's weaknesses and supplement Verrati and Vitinha.

Mbappe has reportedly asked PSG to sign Harry Kane

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Kylian Mbappe has reportedly urged Paris Saint-Germain to make a move for Tottenham Hotspur ace Harry Kane.

Mbappe is said to prefer Kane as an ideal replacement for seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

Messi, who joined PSG in the summer of 2021, has just a few months left on his current contract at Parc des Princes.

Authors
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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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