Kylian Mbappe (L) and Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain look on before the UEFA Champions League game against Juventus at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, September 6, 2022. /CFP
Christophe Galtier, manager of Ligue 1's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), denied that the club's star duo Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are at odds.
PSG beat Juventus 2-1 in their first UEFA Champions League game this season at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. In the second half of that game, Mbappe broke into the box from right. He was facing the opponent's goalkeeper while another defender of Juventus rushed to him from left.
As a result, Mbappe didn't have a good angle to shoot at that moment. By contrast, Neymar was totally unguarded and facing the open goal. However, Mbappe took the shot instead of passing the ball to Neymar. He didn't score and failed to secure a hat trick.
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League game against Juventus at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, September 6, 2022. /CFP
PSG were leading 2-0 back then. After Mbappe blew that opportunity, Juventus soon scored a goal to turn the score into 2-1. PSG were thrown into an unfavorable situation in the following 38 minutes of the game. If Mbappe had passed it to Neymar to score and expand their lead to 3-0, PSG could have dealt with the situation in an easier way.
Neymar seemed upset with Mbappe's choice for that play. The 23-year-old French striker was under a lot criticism after the game.
"The relationship between Ney and Kylian is very good, and I'm not giving you the runaround," Galtier said on Friday. "They are together in the training exercises, they are often together in the warm-ups. Yes, there was that match situation. And I discussed it yesterday with Kylian, who I think, I think, has discussed it with Ney."
Neymar (#10) of Paris Saint-Germain dribbles in the UEFA Champions League game against Juventus at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, September 6, 2022. /CFP
"There are two seconds when you have to make a decision, and Kylian is concentrating on striking the ball," Galtier added. "I am convinced that Kylian will make more decisive passes to Ney, as Ney is capable of making decisive passes to Kylian. But I haven't felt anything negative since the game in relation to this chance."
This was not the first time Mbappe and Neymar have argued this season. Last month, in PSG's 5-2 win over Montpellier at home, Mbappe missed the team's first penalty at the 22nd minute and argued with Neymar for a chance to shoot the second at the 43rd minute. In the end, Neymar made it and "liked" a tweet that ridiculed Mbappe's new status as the "owner of PSG" due to his latest contract containing many favourable conditions.
Galtier tried to play it down by saying the club had no first penalty kicker after that game. So far this season, Mbappe has scored nine goals with no assist in six games. Neymar had nine goals and seven assists in eight games. Mbappe led Ligue 1 last season in both goal scoring (28) and assists (17).