Christophe Galtier on PSG: “I want to have a united group that will help us react with pride.”

The better the championship the closer the table gets, so it is inevitable that PSG may lose some matches. However, losing two in a row at home is new territory for those who may have just started following the club over the last decade. After today’s match against Lyon, head coach Christophe Galtier expressed his disappointment over his team’s eighth defeat in 2023 explaining, “It’s the 8th defeat for us in 2023. Automatically it’s too much… All championships are difficult. The typical front runners are in trouble. Everyone is fighting. Am I resigned? No. Will I fight? Yes. I will fight until the end to get this title. Of course, you will have to behave differently.”

The former ASSE manager is known for his ability to make the best out of the talent he has at hand. With PSG he is in no shortage of it, but there are new issues that he may be less familiar with. Such as the majority of his team being regulars with their national teams and superstar personalities. The 56-year-old coach spoke about the difficulties of his players dividing their time stating, “This is not an excuse but an observation: we had an international fortnight with a workforce scattered around the world, therefore fatigue and potential mental fatigue. We have to react strongly directly after this match. Before Lens, there will be Nice. We must have a reaction of champions. I have great players in the locker room, many of whom have won titles. I hope they are not “jaded” with winning titles. I want to have a united group that will help us react with pride. I will talk about it with my players at the start of the week. We must not fall into slack and think that things will happen in a natural way. Everyone must become aware of the situation and of the work to be done in order to become efficient again.”

Galtier’s comments come from experience. As a coach, he has built winning teams and created winning cultures. However, it seems he has not been able to bring that culture of toughness to this locker room. He reiterated his statements,  “There can be mental wear and tear over a long season. Many players have traveled but when you are champions, you have to be reactive and determined and be much more invested. Even if the players tried, it’s far too insufficient to overthrow a match and an opponent like OL.”

GFFN | Tony DesRois