Auxerre-PSG (1-2): “I hope that we will have the happiness of being champion in the next match”, launches Christophe Galtier

2023-05-22 00:28:20

By winning in difficulty against a valiant Auxerre team, PSG took a giant step towards their eleventh title of champion of France, this Sunday evening. At a press conference, Christophe Galtier said he was satisfied with the success of his men, even if he regretted the relaxation of his training on returning from the locker room. He also spoke of Hugo Ekitike’s lack of success in front of goal.

What do you remember from the evening? The first period or the second half which was more complicated?

CHRISTOPHER GALTIER. We retain the victory, it is the most important. We were dealing with an opponent who is fighting for maintenance. When we saw the result of Lens, it was important to win. On the game, I remember our first period. It was good football, there were good technical relations, deep play. It was interesting. We couldn’t score that third goal. Everyone was in tune in the first period. We know very well that the third goal is very important in this kind of match and we had trouble getting started on the way back from the locker room. There was a lot of technical waste, which gave Auxerre a lot of hope. The second period was difficult, we had to make a lot of effort, be united and defend intelligently. When Hugo (Ekitike) came out, it was a little more difficult because it was a fixation point that freed Kylian and Leo a lot. He thwarted the exits of opposing balls. When he came out we no longer recovered any high balloons. What made that we took waves and assaults…

This second period was still difficult for you…

I simply remember the victory, of course, which leaves little hope for Lens, which is having a great season. You will have to be very serious. We need to be more consistent. The evening meeting reminds me of the match against Angers with a good first period and a second much less. While the two previous games we had been good in both starts. This makes a match available.

Is it a question of time this title of champion of France?

There is already a difference in points, we are six points ahead of Lens. We have a difficult trip to Strasbourg next Saturday. I hope we will have the happiness of being champions in the next match and then celebrating at the Parc with our supporters.

Aren’t you disappointed by Hugo Ekitike’s lack of success and do you sense frustration in him?

He was very frustrated at the break. His comrades and I made him relax. He has played very little and, like all strikers, he wants and needs to score, and that is not the case. There was frustration at the break. If all goes well, he will have opportunities if he is looser in the next two games.

Do you have any information about his injury?

He has a twisted ankle and muscle fatigue. It doesn’t seem serious, we’ll take stock. I hope it will be operational because it was interesting, even if it lacked success on the last gesture. In the last matches, he is interesting and I hope he will be fine.