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Argentine football star Lionel Messi wouldn’t get a chance to continue his incredible run of form against French team Reims in the Ligue 1. The Paris Saint Germain manager Christophe Galtier confirmed the update during his recent press conference after the UEFA Champions League fixture against Portuguese side Benfica.
Galtier expressed that Messi asked him to get off the field as he has been dealing with a calf issue. The manager further addressed the Argentine is better now and will return to practice on Sunday. Galtier also confirmed that the left-back Nuno Mendes will also be sidelined from the Reims game as he is dealing with a muscular problem.
“He asked to be replaced during the Champions League game (against Benfica on Wednesday). He has a little problem with his calf but he will be back to training on Sunday” said Galtier. “Nuno has a big muscular problem. He will be out for a few matches,” he added.
Lionel Messi was entering this fixture in red-hot form as he scored goals in each of his club’s last four games. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s most recent goal was his breathtaking hit that secured a 1-1 draw in Lisbon.
Before which, last weekend, he scored a scintillating direct free-kick to put the Parisians ahead at the Parc des Princes against OGC Nice in a game they went on to win 2-1. Prior to these games, he scored against Maccabi Haifa and Olympique Lyonnais.
After new additions to the injury list, Christophe Galtier expressed that he will have to opt for a new formation and system against Reims. “There's always thoughts on the system. You have to adapt to circumstances, the players' form, injuries. Kimpembe still isn't ready, Nuno Mendes is also out, but it's not those absences that will lead me to change the system.”
Galtier also commented on his French opponents and described their style of play as full of ‘rhythm’ and ‘intensity’. He said, “Reims are a team that likes to play football, that puts in a lot of intensity and rhythm. They'll want to put in a good performance and beat Paris Saint-Germain. They're a team with an identifiable game plan. It's up to us to start well, be focussed and determined, committed, to get a win in Reims.”