Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) manager Christophe Galtier has praised Kylian Mbappe’s selflessness and acknowledged that Neymar deserved a yellow card for simulation against Strasbourg. He also said that Mbappe “taught the whole team with his selflessness.”
On Wednesday night (December 28), leaders PSG defeated 19th-placed Strasbourg by a score of 2-1 in their match at the Parc des Princes. The first goal was scored by Marquinhos with his head in the 14th minute, but an unfortunate own goal in the 51st minute ended the scoring. After receiving two yellow cards, one for a foul on Adrien Thomasson and the other for simulation, Neymar was sent off in the 62nd minute.
The Parisians won despite playing with ten men thanks to Mbappe’s penalty kick in the 96th minute. Coach Galtier was asked to comment on Neymar’s dive inside the Strasbourg box at the post-game press conference. Although he acknowledged that the Brazilian deserved the caution for simulation, he claimed that the initial caution was excessive.
The PSG manager stated, via Planet Sport, “As much as I can understand the simulation, he deserves the yellow [card], a few minutes before he suffers a bad foul, and his first yellow is very severe compared to the number of fouls suffered by Ney.”
“Strasbourg is a team that performs admirably but also exudes a great deal of strength and power. This match had a significant impact. I regret that certain players were not penalized more severely for their excessive commitment. Ney might have been a little annoyed by that.
Following that, Galtier praised Mbappe’s selflessness and asserted that the French forward had brought his stunning World Cup form to club football. Mbappe won the 2022 FIFA Brilliant Boot in the wake of scoring multiple times in seven games, with three of his strikes coming in the last against Argentina.
France could not overcome Argentina’s Lionel Messi, despite his heroics, and lost 4-2 on penalties.
Prior to his dismissal for diving, Brazil international Neymar was PSG’s best player
Prior to his dismissal against Strasbourg, he was enjoying himself. He worked flawlessly with Mbappe and the rest of the team, created numerous chances to score, and carried the ball well into potentially dangerous areas of the field. Strasbourg was difficult to contain and repeatedly fouled him.
Before his excusal in the 62nd moment, Neymar played three key passes, made two once in a lifetime opportunities, finished three spills, and drew a stunning six fouls. PSG probably would have won more convincingly on Wednesday over Strasbourg, who were in danger of relegation, if he hadn’t fallen to the ground so rashly.
Naymar will miss Sunday’s (January 1) Ligue 1 matchup against Lens because of his indirect red card.