Paris Saint-Germain manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has claimed there are no issues between him and Lionel Messi, after the player was subbed off against Lyon.
Messi made his first home start for PSG on Sunday, but was taken off in the 76th minute with the scores still 1-1.
The 34-year-old looked bemused when his number was shown, shrugging his shoulders at his manager and barely acknowledging him as he left the pitch.
Pochettino has played down the exchange and says his decision to withdraw Messi was not controversial, particularly with PSG boasting such a big and talented squad.
“I think everybody knows we have many great players in this 35-man squad,’ said the former Spurs boss afterwards.
“Only 11 can play, we can’t play more. We have to make choices, within the matchday squad and then during the game. The decisions in the game are made for the good of the team and each player.
“Every coach thinks about that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes players like it and sometimes they don’t. At the end of the day, that’s why we’re here.
“These are decisions that have to be made by the coach. As for his reaction, I asked him how he was, he said he was OK. That was it. That was our exchange. No issues.”