After Nantes – Paris Saint-Germain (0-3): Neymar, or the art of management by Christophe Galtier (PSG)

The Brazilian did not seem particularly marked by the choice of Galtier. Less than when the Parisian coach decided to take him out during the match against Toulouse (0-3) on Wednesday. Face closed, the former Barcelonan had joined the bench dragging his feet. At La Beaujoire he was in a much better mood. Smiling, relaxed, not hesitating to joke with the other Parisian substitutes, Neymar accepted his situation until his entry, shortly after the hour mark.

Galtier had taken care to prepare the ground. It wasn’t easy. Not just in relation to Neymar’s personality. Also because the Brazilian was the strong man at the start of the Parisian season, with 7 goals and 6 assists in 5 league matches before this meeting. “There is always the risk of breaking the dynamic from the moment it is not accepted by the playerexplained the PSG coach at a press conference. But I had a long discussion yesterday (Friday, editor’s note) with ‘Ney’, I made the decision and he accepted it very well.”

“Promote partner entries”

Exactly. His choice to bring in Neymar in place of Mbappé, beyond the need to manage the playing time of the two men three days before a crucial meeting against Juventus, was not trivial. The French striker has sometimes reacted badly when he has been substituted in the past. The pill was certainly a little easier to swallow when he gave way to Neymar. Another star who had just spent an hour on the bench waiting his turn without showing his displeasure.

If Galtier left Leo Messi on the pitch until the end, after having taken him out at the end of the match in Toulouse, he had made another remarkable choice by doing without Sergio Ramos at kick-off. The Parisian coach shows that he is capable of making strong decisions. But above all its ability to make them pass smoothly. This is a crucial issue for a coach who had never coached players of this caliber in his career. His ability to impose himself in Paris will depend a lot on his management of egos. The way is still long. But he seems on the right track.