While his counterpart Franck Haise capsized the Bollaert public by launching an improbable “Olélé, olala, but what happened, we messed them up! “, Christophe Galtier presented himself at a press conference after a defeat for the first time since his arrival in Paris. The Lensois success (3-1), this Sunday, January 1, hurts the Parisian coach. Especially in the way.
Does this defeat make sense?
CHRISTOPHER GALTIER. Yes. Over the whole match obviously Lens deserved their victory but it’s not so much the defeat that disappoints me or annoys me, it’s the way we conceded our goals. The positions were not respected. It is always very important to start a second half well. We gave them two goals. Behind that, we completely cut ourselves in two, disorganized. It’s the first time I’ve seen my team be so disorganized. And when there is too much technical waste there are losses of balls which give the advantage to the counter-attacks.
Do you have an explanation on the level of the players?
It’s like that. You are caught in a match with a lot of intensity, a lot of impact. From the moment when we are not technically correct, that creates a lot of spaces. It’s the first time I’ve seen so much technical waste this season.
What impact can this first defeat have?
There was no particular pressure to stay undefeated. It was never a goal defined by anyone, neither me, nor the technical management or the players.
What did you think of Kylian Mbappé’s match in the absence of Neymar and Messi?
He made a lot of effort, even at 3-1 he showed a good state of mind. Unfortunately in front it got together well and there were fewer and fewer spaces. Our two players Leo (Messi) and Ney were not there but there is no excuse for the fact that we lost because there were absentees. We will have many games. There will be absent. You have to know how to be really better even with fewer players.
Can Lens still be champion in your opinion?
In the media, there was enthusiasm this Sunday morning for Lens to beat us and for there to be more suspense. But I would have given the same answer if we had won: the championship is still long. We can’t think that even if we had won the championship would have been folded. They return to 4 points. It’s like that. It is a fact.
Does this team remind you of Lille when you were champions?
Not at all in the way the team expresses itself. On the other hand, it is a team that exudes a lot of enthusiasm.
How will you welcome Messi at the start of the week?
We will be very happy to welcome him to our home, to the training centre. On the 3rd, that is to say in 48 hours. Of course it will be very well received. Afterwards, for the welcome at the stadium, I have no doubt that he will be very well received at the Park. Above all, now that he has achieved this incredible goal, we must remember what he has been doing since the start of the season with the team. He is a decisive player for us. So I have no doubt that it will be very well received.