Angers – PSG: “I plan to be the coach of next season”, assures Christophe Galtier

2023-04-20 14:34:10

Another championship begins this Friday for PSG and Christophe Galtier. In Angers, the red lantern, the leader will launch the last straight line of his season, that leading to the 11th championship title. If he reaches out to his team, the Parisian coach is also well placed to know that the eight lengths ahead of the Marseille dolphin is also a trap. Especially for a team like his subject to a drop in speed and opposed, in the coming weeks, to clubs in the second part of the table. This is not likely to worry the technician who, in the absence of Nuno Mendes preserved as a precautionary principle, ensures to project himself, despite the rumors announcing his departure, on next season in the capital.

A few weeks ago, you were explaining to us how to prepare for next season. Are you still certain of being in post in the summer of 2023?

CHRISTOPHER GALTIER. We’re working with Luis Campos on the squad architecture for next season, with the changes we want to make to improve the team, to maybe have more variety in our game, whether that’s through different organizations, have a better balance. We have been working for weeks and also last week more precisely. Am I convinced to be the coach next season? I plan to be next season’s coach at PSG.

How are you personally?

GOOD. I am very focused on work, it allows me to be active. I am with my staff and with the players. I know the importance of going for that title. I also plan for the future, I have a lot of work in this direction. And my brain is constantly active to stay focused on the game, training and preparing the team to win matches.

In view of the way the season has gone, both on and off the pitch, do you think the PSG project has lost its legibility and credibility?

A report will be made at the end of the season. We must not forget that it was a unique season, with an international competition, the most beautiful, right in the middle. Automatically, it will be necessary to analyze what happened in the first part of the season and the second. Why and for what reasons? Is there a lack of visibility? I do not believe that. Internally, we know what we need to focus our thinking on to improve our squad and our game. Will this season make some players think about the possible desire to come to Paris? A lot of players want to join PSG, believe me.

There is no problem between Ekitike and me

What is your view of Marco Verratti’s season and do you imagine him as one of the leaders of the club’s project for the next financial year?

Marco has been at PSG for many years. We all know its importance in the game, in the locker room. Often, it makes the link between one and the other. He is both jovial, but also focused on the competition. Her season has been hampered by injuries, but overall she is good. Do we project ourselves with him in the project for next season? He extended. He is an important player in the locker room. Due to his tactical knowledge and his ability to be the binder on the field, he is also the one who triggers very important passes in the heart of the game.

Are you going to shoot this Friday in Angers?

The workforce is very weak. We have four or five players who cannot play, including three absent until the end of the season. We are entering a period that everyone considers a period of relaxation. I spoke about it with my players today: in Angers the stadium will be full, the local team will be totally free, without any pressure and they will want to bring down the champion. They drew against Nice, beat Lille. We have no right to relaxation. Compared to our young people who have been training with us since the start of the season, we will see if we can give them playing time. If we can make them grow a little faster, I will not deprive myself of it.

Is there a problem with Hugo Ekitike that we hardly see anymore?

No there is no problem. He works seriously. He even works harder than other players as he has no playing time. But there is also the architecture of the team which means that he faces very great competition with the presence of Kylian and Leo. But we will see what will happen in the upcoming matches. There is no problem between Hugo and me.

How do you judge the evolution of Vitinha and do you feel it different since his goal scored against Lens?

Due to the system in place (5-3-2), we need players who project themselves more. I am looking for midfielders who can project themselves, make assists and score. This was the case with Carlos Soler in some matches. I ask them, in particular these two circles, to project themselves, to take initiatives. There he scored. May he continue to have that desire when he is in contact with attackers close to the surface. Shooting is an important weapon against low blocks. Viti had a good first part of the season. It was more complicated then, like the team. But there he is coming back well and is in good shape.