Lionel Messi will miss PSG’s trip to Metz on Wednesday night due to injury - just days after boss Mauricio Pochettino was forced to defend his use of the star.
Controversy reigned at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night, following Les Parisiens’ 2-1 win over Lyon.
PSG kept up their 100 percent Ligue 1 record this season with a comeback victory, as Mauro Icardi headed home a 93rd minute winner.
By that point, Messi’s night had been brought to an abrupt end, substituted with 15 minutes remaining and the scoreline level.
The Barcelona superstar duly made his displeasure clear, snubbing the ex-Spurs boss’ offer of a hand shake as he trudged to the bench where he cut a frustrated figure.
Post-game, Pochettino insisted there were no problems with Messi, declaring his compatriot understood his decision.
Pochettino said: “I took the decision to take Leo off to protect him for possible injuries. We have important games coming up and we want to protect him.
"These are decisions that we make for the good of the team.
"Sometimes the players agree and sometimes they don’t. Afterwards, Messi told me he was fine with the decision."
Prior to Messi’s departure, the 34-year-old was seen rubbing his knee and working out his leg on the field. He motioned to the bench that he was fine, but Pochettino had other ideas.
And that knock will now keep him out of the trip to the Stade Saint-Symphorien.
PSG confirmed on Tuesday that Messi - yet to score for his new club - is suffering from a knee injury, with an MRI showing bruising on the bone.
He is set to be monitored in the coming days, with PSG’s highly-anticipated Champions League showdown with Manchester City next week.
"The club has communicated about Messi, the situation is clear," said Pochettino on Tueday. "On Sunday, we saw that Leo was touching his knee, he did 75 minutes where we were very happy."
Pochettino’s decision on Sunday night is now also further vindicated, with the Argentine - despite winning the game - having been criticised in some quarters, most notably via a social media post from Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family.
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