Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier has told his team not to allow Lionel Messi take some tasks but to work hard to give the 35-year-old some freedom on the pitch.
According to him, the World Cup winner was exempt from defensive duties in PSG’s 2-1 win against Toulouse on Saturday.
Toulouse scored first at the Parc des Princes through a Branco Van den Boomen free-kick before Achraf Hakimi levelled things for the home side. Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were absent and Messi secured all three points for the French champions by scoring the winning goal from long range close to the hour mark.
Speaking to the press after the victory, the manager said that the Argentine has been exempted from some duties to enable him play his type of football which would be productive for the entire team.
“Lionel Messi was a very important engine, like his goal and the situations he created. 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 he distils passes, which are so rare in today’s football, in such small spaces,” Galtier said.
