2023-05-22 00:06:51
Christophe Galtier and his players are (very) close to the title in L1. Federico Pestellini / PANORAMIC
The Parisian coach looks back on the victory at Auxerre (1-2) on Sunday, during the 36th day, and the 11th title of champion in the history of the club which is approaching.
At the Abbé-Deschamps
The game : «What do we remember? We hold the victory. This is the most important at this time of the season. We faced an opponent who remained on a positive dynamic at home, who is fighting for maintenance. We knew the result of Lens (3-1 victory in Lorient, which made impossible the coronation of PSG on Sunday, editor’s note). It was important to win. On the game, I remember what we did in the first half, good football, with a desire to recover the ball quickly, a lot of good play. It was interesting. We couldn’t score that third goal even though Auxerre could also have scored with a nice shot from outside the box. We know very well that the third goal is very important in this kind of match. We had trouble starting this second period, with a lot of technical errors, simple errors. It gave hope to Auxerre. We make a gross mistake on their goal. After this goal, we know that we will have a difficult second period and we had to make a lot of effort, be very united, defend intelligently, to contain the attacks from Auxerre. Offensively, after Hugo’s (Ekitike) exit, it was a bit more difficult for us. With him, we had a fixation point that could free Leo (Messi) and Kylian (Mbappé) a little more. He also did good on the defensive withdrawal to thwart the first ball outs. Afterwards, by switching to 5-3-2, we no longer recovered the high ball at all, so we took waves, attacks from Auxerre, crosses.»
Hugo Ekitike : «He had a small ankle twist on a tackle, but he also felt muscle fatigue. It doesn’t seem serious… We’ll see in the next 24/48 hours. I hope it will be operational because it is interesting, even if it lacked success on the last gesture or presence. In the way we evolve, he was interesting and I hope he will be fine so that he can continue. (…) He was very frustrated at the break. His comrades and I made him relax. He has played little this season, he is very present in the last matches. Like all attackers, he needs and wants to score. This is not the case. There was frustration at the break, but if all goes well physically, he will have opportunities. If he is more relaxed, and as his partners are looking for him, he will be decisive.»
I hope we will have the happiness of being champions in the next match (in Strasbourg).
Christophe Galtier
Fabian Ruiz : «Fabian felt a little pain in his adductor, it doesn’t seem very serious, we’ll take stock in 24/48 hours.»
Read alsoLigue 1: winner in Auxerre with a double from Mbappé, PSG very close to their 11th coronation
The approaching title : «I remember the victory, which leaves little hope for Lens, which is having a great season, to come and get us. We still have two matches, we will have to be very serious. But as a coach, obviously, we tell ourselves that we have to be more consistent. This match reminds me of that of Angers a few weeks ago. The first period had been very good but the second… was much less good. It was the case again tonight (Sunday), while in the last two matches, we had been good at the start, very good at the start of both periods, moreover. That was not the case tonight and that made the match difficult… A question of time for the title? We are six points ahead of Lens, we have a trip that promises to be difficult in Strasbourg. I hope we will be lucky enough to be champions in the next match and to be able to celebrate at the Parc des Princes with our supporters (June 3 against Clermont).»
Statements taken at a press conference
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