Lionel Messi scored a double as Paris Saint-Germain opened the new Ligue 1 campaign with a 5-0 over Clermont Foot, earning praise from boss Christophe Galtier.
Messi’s two goals came in the 86th and 90th minutes, rounding out a comprehensive win with Neymar, Achraf Hakimi and Marquinhos all netting in the first half.
Galtier, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino in the off-season, was delighted with his cohesion as he bids to get Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, who was absent, to work together.
“A lot of satisfaction, first and foremost with the win,” Galtier told reporters.
“Winning the game and scoring five goals is important, as is not conceding any chances and maintaining high levels throughout, even when the gaps were getting larger.
“I liked the way that the team expressed itself in attack, of course. But also when the block needed to put in the team effort to win the ball back.
“There was a lot of effort put in for one and other, and putting in that effort for teammates is something that we are really insisting on a lot.
“I know that I have a very talented team with players who are very talented, but they need to play as a team, and that needs to happen over the whole of a match, and then throughout the season.”
Galtier explained Mbappe’s absence was due to a minor injury and expected him to be available next weekend against Montpellier.
“He had a little problem, (and) we didn’t want to take any risks,” he said.
“Obviously, if we had been playing a difficult game or a Champions League game, Kylian might have participated.
“We preferred to delay his return and he will be with us obviously, I think, against Montpellier.”
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