Asked at a press conference on Monday at the Parc des Princes, the Parisian coach takes stock on the eve of the clash of C1 against Bayern Munich.
The reasons for hope : «The team that will line up tomorrow will look nothing like the group that traveled to Monaco. Then, almost all of my players are used to these big meetings. Certainly, we have a quality opponent. The draw is thus made. But I know that my players know how to raise their level of play, their standards and their involvement in these major events.»
How he lives the current period on a personal basis : «I put concealer (smile). Obviously, when you are the coach of PSG and you lose two matches in a row (Marseille in the Coupe de France and Monaco, in L1, editor’s note), it’s difficult. Even more against competitors, even more when it’s an elimination in the Coupe de France against OM… It’s part of a season. I am obviously in the reflection, but also in the action. I stay very connected with my players, my group. We are preparing for the game. I make sure to find the best organization, the best possible associations in order to be efficient tomorrow. As far as I am concerned, I put aside the pressure that there may be on me, everything that can be said about me. I respect everything that is said, but the most important thing is what happens in the locker room and the exchanges with my players. Above all, the way in which we prepare for this meeting.»
It will be 50-50.
Christophe Galtier
The favorite Bayern… or not : «No, it’s 50-50. Obviously, if we analyze the results, the statistics, we can (say that Bayern are favorites). But it’s a Champions League game. This club, my players are used to these meetings. At the end of the match, there will be no qualifiers. It will be 50-50. We know that Bayern had a bit of a difficult period after the World Cup but since then they have performed well. We don’t… currently, for different reasons. However, I have a much more complete squad for this match than in the previous ones.»
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Player frustration : «In these big meetings and in a period like the one we are going through, we need calm, serenity. If you are nervous, excited, you spend energy for nothing. But when there is frustration, it has to come out. This is how I lead, how I manage my players for years. They are totally different players, but they are also men who need to vent any frustration they may have. At some point, it has to come out… You have to listen to them. But they also have to listen to me. There is disappointment and frustration, which breeds anger after our two defeats. We swapped. I listened well. I dare to hope that they listened to me well too. The most important thing is that they can vent all that frustration.»
His duel against Julian Nagelsmann : «He’s a young coach but he’s getting some experience. It is very modern. We have analyzed Bayern a lot, they have a very clearly identified game. We worked on the strong points of Bayern, but also the weak points. It is a team with weak points. Am I going to beat him tactically? That’s never the game. The actors are the players. There is preparation. I think we prepared, we worked. We will refine tomorrow during various briefings. But there is the reality of the game. It’s on the pitch that it’s played, it’s the players. Afterwards, we will see the history of the match, the evolution of the result and the circumstances which will cause changes. But I’m not in the preparation for this match telling myself that it’s my German counterpart against me, not at all… It’s PSG against Bayern, with the quality of my players above all.»
Who to make the link between the middle and the attack … in place of Vitinha, aligned in 10 on the last matches : «For different reasons, with the sequence of matches and the absence of certain players, there were very few rotations, I looked for and I put players in playing areas which they do not have habit. I respect them because they accepted it. Was it a success? Not especially… But Vitinha won’t be number 10 tomorrow.»
I understand the disappointment and frustration that engenders anger among our supporters.
Christophe Galtier
The relationship with supporters and the post-match period in Monaco : «It’s always difficult. I understand and we all understand the disappointment, the frustration that generates anger among our supporters, who have traveled a long time and who have witnessed a match that is really very difficult for us. I’m sure they’ll be there tomorrow. In these major C1 meetings, the Parc des Princes has always been present and it will resonate strongly! They will encourage us to the end. 96, 97, 98 minutes. Then, on what happened at the end of the game on Saturday, I gave them a sign. Afterwards, it is according to the feelings of each other. Some players went to see them. Others have returned. I believe in not judging anyone. There can be frustration and anger among our supporters, I understand that, but everyone must also understand that my players, after Monaco, also felt frustration and anger. Some went in the direction of the supporters after the game. I did it, some were there too and were welcomed the way they were welcomed, others preferred to go back, that’s how it is.»
Statements taken at a press conference