Christophe Galtier gave a curious answer when quizzed on the relationship between Paris Saint-Germain's star men Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
The PSG manager has guided his team to the top of Ligue 1 after an unbeaten start to the season, while they are also yet to lose in Europe. However, reports of bad blood between two of his key men has been a distraction off the pitch.
Mbappe and Neymar linked up brilliantly in Les Parisiens' Champions League opener, with the former scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory over Juventus. Ahead of the next European game, at home to unbeaten Benfica, Galtier was asked about the duo once more.
"The technical relationship between Ney and Mbappé exists," Galtier said in his pre-match press conference, though the non-technical aspect was not addressed. "It works well and the stats show that.
"But we have to have other variations in our play, otherwise it's too easy for our opponents to close us down. We have to find solutions out wide. Messi can take our attack to the left, we have also worked on positioning to have more variety in our play."
Galtier started with Carlos Soler and Pablo Sarabia in a front three with Mbappe against Reims on Saturday, with Neymar coming off the bench. Lionel Messi was missing through injury, and will also be absent against Benfica, so the manager will need to make a decision against last season's Champions League quarter-finalists.
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The bad blood between Mbappe and Neymar has escalated this season after an apparent row regarding PSG's penalty takers. Teammate Sergio Ramos had to step in to separate the pair after a match against Montpelier, but the Ligue 1 title holders have remained unbeaten despite the distraction.
Messi, like Neymar, was asked about Mbappe during the international break. He was unequivocal in his praise for the Frenchman, though, and said: "He is a complete player and he has proved it for years, and in the years to come, he will certainly be among the best".
Messi, meanwhile. was forced off early in the away game against Benfica, having scored PSG's goal in the 1-1 draw. The injury sustained at Estadio da Luz ruled him out against Reims, and he also won't be involved in midweek.
"Leo felt a problem in his calf during the first game with Benfica,” Galtier said on Monday. “We all thought he was going to be able to play in the second game, but it's not quite there.
"There's only six days between the two. He's a lot better, but he still has that feeling that could be problematic in a game of this importance, and he preferred to sit it out."
