PSG – Ajaccio: “Yes, Lionel Messi will start the match” announces Christophe Galtier

2023-05-12 13:56:03

Saturday evening’s meeting at the Parc des Princes will inevitably have a unique character for Christophe Galtier. Firstly because it will pit him against his son Jordan, assistant to Olivier Pantaloni, at AC Ajaccio. Also because it will mark the return of Lionel Messi, deprived of a week of training and the trip to Troyes last Sunday.

You found Lionel Messi this week. How did the group and the staff react to the decision to lay him off? How did they experience his reintegration?

Regarding the penalty, as I said last week, I do not comment on it. On the other hand, we have, with pleasure, welcomed the return of Leo. He trained throughout the week with a lot of desire and determination. With a desire to play for the team.

What difference does it make if PSG plays with or without Messi?

Leo is Leo! I’m not going to tell you about his very interesting stats. When he is on the pitch, you simply have to adapt certain things to find both the right balance and the right offensive animation. We saw in Troyes the team express themselves in a beautiful way in what we had put in place. I stay on what we did in Troyes by integrating Leo. We’ll have to find such an interesting offensive animation.

Will it start?

Obviously I spoke with Leo as soon as he returned on Tuesday to see what state of mind he was in. I found it very serene. In the exchanges I felt very determined to play, motivated to win an additional title of champion of France. From the moment I felt he was determined to work… Yes he will start tomorrow.

Could you also include Ekitiké or will he join the bench?

The reflection exists. But we worked on two animations, including one with three offensive players.

How did you welcome the choice of Ultra Paris collective to stop all activities to support?

It is never with pleasure that we receive this kind of news. We know that the CUP are important supporters who greatly enhance the atmosphere, whether at home, at the Park or outside. I will not comment on the decision. But there are also our other supporters who are omnipresent. I think that through exchanges and discussions, we could find solutions so that everything goes back to normal. It’s unfortunate, but there are also all the other supporters very present

Without criticizing Nasser Al-Khelaïfi or Luis Campos, isn’t it burdensome to always have to answer questions about club news and even sports extras?

I think that’s part of the job. It’s the same in other clubs. I did three before Paris but obviously PSG is a very exposed club in terms of the media, there are many more questions. But when you are a coach, you have the pre-match, post-match conferences. You are the most exposed person, the most solicited.

You remain on three home defeats in four games and four away wins in as many games. How do you explain such a disparity in results?

You have to take the scenarios and the team compositions. Against Lorient, it was a big disappointment in terms of the result and the level of play. But we played with ten for 1h15. It is also the story of a match. On previous defeats, there were major players absent. There may be a cause and effect relationship on this. It’s like that. Now we have the reception of Ajaccio. The workforce, even if the injured will not return, it seems much more substantial. There are more possibilities, whether at the start or during the match.

Given the context of the end of the season, don’t you say to yourself “can’t wait for this to end”?

No. Strongly that we are champion of France, yes. Matches are coming up. Saturday, we are on a decisive match, not decisive. If we win tomorrow, we won’t be champions. The decisive matches will come later. Life is not a long calm river here, things happen. But no, there is no wear. There is no wear and tear in me, no desire to be on vacation quickly to recuperate. There is a very strong determination.

Do you expect the same kind of match against Ajaccio as against Troyes?

I don’t know. Obviously, it is very bad start for them for the maintenance in Ligue 1. But we will see players released at the Park. They will not have the pressure of the result. The players who come to the Park always want to perform, even outperform. I expect a team that won’t give up. We will have to be very competitive throughout the match and not let Ajaccio settle over time.