AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Galtier, after working with Messi at PSG: “Cristiano is still the best player in the world”
The former PSG coach now oversees Al-Duhail in Qatar with his side losing to Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League with two goals from the Portuguese.
Christophe Galtier coached Leo Messi last season at PSG. Despite winning the French domestic campaign the Ligue 1 side fell short again in the Champions League losing to Bayern Munich. Another poor season for PSG saw many targeted and the 57-year-old was on his way as the season concluded.
Galtier worked with Leo Messi at the French club with many feeling that the Argentine’s best efforts were reserved for international duty with the Rosario native also departing the Parisian side at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
Galtier ended up coaching Al-Duhail in Qatar and earlier this week his Doha based side faced Cristiano’s Al Nassr in the ‘Asian Champions’. The 3-4 victory for the Saudi side in the group stage drew a series of superlatives from the Marseille born coach as with the win in Doha, Al Nassr are on the cusp of advancing to the next phase of the AFC Champions League.
Speaking postgame, Galtier stated: “When you face Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s not much you can do. He scored two fine goals and I do not have words to describe it and it really is extraordinary for a 38-year-old player. He is still the best player in the world.”
These words will not have sat well with Messi who just a few months earlier was under the tutelage of Galtier with PSG with the Messi or Cristiano debate still showing no sign of running out of steam anytime soon.