Christophe Galtier was grateful to have Lionel Messi back as the World Cup winner scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win against Angers on Wednesday.
The Argentina captain made his first appearance back for his club since lifting the trophy last month, and with PSG only leading 1-0 against Ligue 1's bottom club after Hugo Ekitike's early goal, Messi made the game safe in the 72nd minute as he ran onto a pass from Nordi Mukiele before finishing into the bottom left corner of the net.
Speaking after the win, Galtier thanked the fans for their celebration of Messi's achievement in Qatar, despite Argentina beating France in the World Cup final.
"Thank you to our supporters for welcoming him in the way that they did. That means a lot to him. Our fans also got behind him when the game was difficult," the PSG head coach said.
"Messi has recovered well. He has had quite a few training sessions back with us now. He seemed lighter and in very good physical shape.
"Of course, the team is different with and without Messi. He also scored an important goal for us tonight and we all know that he loves scoring goals, he is the sort of player who needs goals.
"I spoke to him at half-time to see how he felt and he said he felt good... It is important to have Messi back at the heart of our game. The fact that he played 90 minutes is even better."
Galtier also explained why he opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation, emphasising the importance of his team being able to show flexibility as they extended their lead at the top of the table to six points following Lens' draw with Strasbourg.
"It was for this game, based on how we prepared," he said. "I felt it was not going to work in the way we had prepared. I also spoke to my players and my staff in terms of our options, and we took a different one.
"The team performed very well in this system at the start of the season in big games. That is how it went tonight. It is important for a team like Paris Saint-Germain, for my players, and also, for me and the staff to have options, as well as the ability to switch from one system to another."
'I'm probably more out than in' - Salah yet to be offered Liverpool extension
Mohamed Salah says he is "probably more out than in" at Liverpool as he is yet to receive an offer to extend his contract.
The Egyptian is Liverpool's top scorer this season, having netted 12 goals in all competitions, but is in the final months of his current deal, which runs out at the end of the campaign.
Salah became the first player to score in five successive Premier League appearances for the Reds with his two goals in the 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday, since the Egyptian himself in October 2021 (seven in a row).
His second goal in that match was also his 100th away from Anfield for Liverpool in all competitions.
Salah, who has scored 223 goals since joining from Roma in 2017, admitted he was disappointed with the current contract situation.
"We are almost in December, and I haven't received any offers yet to stay in the club," he said. "I'm probably more out than in.
"I'm not going to retire soon, so I'm just playing, focusing on the season, and I'm trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I'm disappointed, but we will see."
Only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (12) has bettered Salah's tally of 10 goals this term.
Salah is one of three high-profile Liverpool players in the final year of their contracts, with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also approaching the end of their deals.
"You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this," Salah added.
"But in the end, it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December, and I haven't received anything yet about my future.
"I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end, it is not in my hands or the fans' hands. Let's wait and see."
Mbappe getting 'up to speed' with Real Madrid team-mates
Kylian Mbappe believes he is finally getting up to speed with his Real Madrid team-mates after scoring in a 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganes on Sunday.
Mbappe, who had played in a central attacking role since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, went four games without scoring in all competitions before netting the opener against Leganes.
The 25-year-old has come under scrutiny since his move, despite scoring eight goals in his opening 16 matches in all competitions, as he has not hit the free-scoring heights he showed while at PSG.
He scored his seventh league goal of the campaign after being moved back to his preferred position on the left, with Carlo Ancelotti saying after the game he was satisfied with the tactical shift.
Mbappe combined well with fellow attacker Vinicius Junior, who usually operates down that flank, as the Brazilian set up the goal.
"Vinicius and I read each other very well. I've got a great relationship with him, and he's a great player," Mbappe told Real Madrid TV after the win.
"I think I put in a good performance. I'm starting to get up to speed with my team-mates. I can play in every position, and I'm ready to help the team and give my all.
"It's the story of my career. I play on the right, on the left, in the middle and with two up top. It doesn't matter to me. I want to help the team and score goals."
Madrid are second in the league, four points behind Barcelona, who have played one game more. The leaders drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo on Saturday.
LA Galaxy 6-2 Minnesota United: Hosts through to Western Conference final with rout
LA Galaxy booked their place in the Western Conference final with a thumping 6-2 victory over Minnesota United at Dignity Health Sports Park.
It was a dream start for the Galaxy, who took just 27 seconds to break the deadlock – Gabriel Pec latched onto Riqui Puig's throughball before turning his marker to coolly slot past Dayne St. Clair.
Kelvin Yeboah restored parity five minutes later with a superb finish into the top corner, but Dejan Joveljic ensured they were not level for long, rising high to send a glancing header into the net.
Joseph Paintsil cushioned in a third at the far post in the 37th minute, though the Galaxy would only have a one-goal cushion at the break as Yeboah scored from the spot on the second attempt after John McCarthy had come off his line too early on the initial penalty.
Joveljic, who gave away Minnesota's spot-kick, rattled the woodwork moments after the break before Pec bagged his second with a strong finish in another quick start.
Jefferson Diaz received his first booking for fouling Pec in the penalty area, though the Brazilian saw his spot-kick saved, and got his marching orders five minutes later for catching Pec again with his elbow.
The Galaxy then rounded it off in style, with Paintsil curling it past St. Clair 86 minutes in before Joveljic got his second three minutes later to set up a home clash with Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Goals galore
The Galaxy scored nine goals in their first-round games against Colorado Rapids, and showed no signs of stopping against Minnesota either, as they extended their scoring run to 24 home games in MLS.
Pec's goal is the earliest they have scored last season, while it is the ninth time the 23-year-old has opened the scoring for Greg Vanney's side in the competition. In Pec and Joveljic, the Galaxy have two players currently on 19 goals for the campaign.
It is the first time LA Galaxy have scored six goals in a game since September 2019 against Sporting Kansas City (W7-2).
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