The PSG coach, Christophe Galtier, spoke to the media two days after being eliminated in the Champions League round of 16 at the hands of Bayern and on the occasion of the match against Brest, corresponding to matchday 27 of Ligue 1. The Marseillais began by assessing the state of the dressing room after suffering a severe setback this week in Europe. “There is enough disappointment in the dressing room. Anger too. The players are tired and very disappointed. We all talked together this morning. There were high hopes for us. Every year, a single team wins the Champions League. Now we have to project ourselves on our goal, which is to win Ligue 1“, said.
The 56-year-old coach hid behind casualties to talk about the debacle in Munich. “There were important absences in the double confrontation against Bayern. Mbappé did not start the first leg, Achraf was quickly handicapped by injury. In the second leg, we suffered the casualties of Kimpembe and Neymar. Two injuries to which must be added those of Marquinhos and Mukiele. It was an obsession for me that we arrive in shape. We arrived weakened at the double confrontation”.
Of Mbappé, besides, ensured that it is not the indicated one nor does he have to go looking for him to convince him to continue at PSG. “I don’t have to try to convince Kylian Mbappé. Any player would have said the same after the elimination against Bayern. Kylian is a Paris Saint-Germain player, he shows it in every match and has great determination to succeed and take the club to the highest possible level.”
He also had words for Sergio Ramos and Messi, of whom he was asked if they can be mentally affected after an elimination like that of Munich in the European Cup. “No, I have no doubts. There is no doubt that these two great players, with incredible track records, are familiar with this type of situation.. They are players of a high level, who go quickly from one match to another. Your contractual situation? They are used to these kinds of moments.”
On the risk of players giving up in Ligue 1, he added: “There is always a risk, but I told my players that PSG are the defending champions. If we win, it will be the first time that a team has won 11 titles, something never seen in France. The fact of being champions of France must not be minimized. There are players who have an extraordinary track record, others who have not yet tasted what it is to be a French champion. The title is not easy, winning is not normal. You have to fight until the end to win Ligue 1. We are touched in terms of casualties, but you must not minimize being a champion ”.
Galtier once again stressed that the fact of being a Ligue 1 champion should not be underestimated. “I see what happens abroad. Bayern, who logically eliminated us, don’t win the Champions League every year. But every time they win the championship, it’s a big party that they share with the fans and club employees. It must be the same for us. We have to stop trivializing the title. It is not easy to be champion of France”.
