A crazy match, an incredible outcome, an unexpected scenario. This Sunday afternoon, PSG pulled away in the last minutes to return to victory by beating Lille (4-3) in a game with many twists and turns: 2-0 for Paris, then 3-2 for Lille, injuries from Nuno Mendes and Neymar, double from Kylian Mbappé, final goal from Leo Messi.
Passed by all the emotions, Christophe Galtier, the Parisian coach, came to a press conference after the match to give his analysis of the meeting.
What do you remember from this match: the reaction of your players or the air gap when you lead 2-0?
CHRISTOPHER GALTIER. Both. It’s been a long time since we started a match like this. By scoring goals on actions worked 48 hours before. We made a good start and then crashed! Total concentration. We lost in intensity, in replacement and we gave a lot of space to this great Lille team. We are not focused on Lille’s first goal and we are starting to get angry.
I have to remember the great reaction, supported by our supporters who pushed to the end. There have been quick injuries, like that of Neymar who has a sprained ankle. These are headwinds. I was stuck on my changes. I had to change organization to put more pressure on the opponent. The players have put heart and determination. But you can’t give a team so much hope.
A word on Neymar’s injury? Is it bad luck again?
It’s never luck or bad luck. There are reasons, the calendar, the sequence, it complicates things. It is necessary to make the round back, but with a victory, it is more pleasant. He is being examined at the hospital to find out the severity of his injury. For Nuno Mendes, it does not matter. He stretched his muscle.
Luis Campos was near your bench after Lille’s third goal. Is it interference, like at half-time in Monaco (3-1 loss) last week ?
It’s not interference. Luis is passionate, a competitor, with very high goals like all of us. There was no interference in Monaco in the tactical or technical field. Just nervousness. Or rather anger in Monaco. Today (Sunday), I am in front, I do not see what is happening behind. This shows a great desire to succeed collectively, with management. With Luis, there is passion.
Can this victory allow us to start again?
Leave again, I don’t know if that’s the term. It was the second game where we found our attacking trio and all three scored. It gives confidence. The downside, for 30 or 40 minutes, is the air pocket. We must be more rigorous, more compact to regain momentum. There was too much renunciation, we lost intensity. I’m not jumping on the ceiling but it’s a big relief.
Personally, how do you experience this relief? Is it a breath of fresh air?
Oxygen yes. After three defeats in three different competitions, there is you (the media), which is normal. I try not to read you too much or look at you. I stay in a bubble, so as not to lose energy. Behind these three defeats, I had a lot of exchanges and a lot of support from my management, Luis of course, but also my president. I remain focused on reviving the dynamic.