PSG won on the wire against Strasbourg (2-1) despite a disputed end of the match at ten against eleven after the expulsion of Neymar. The Parisian attitude and the great confidence of Kylian Mbappé greatly pleased Christophe Galtier, always so talkative in a press conference. The Parisian coach also congratulated El Chadaille Bitshiabu or Marco Verratti.
What words do you have to describe Kylian Mbappé’s performance, which gives you victory at the very end of the match ten days after playing in the World Cup final?
“What about him again… It’s not easy. He is on the continuity of what he did in Qatar, in this World Cup. He had very few days off. To have been at the end of the competition with this exceptional course – despite the sadness and disappointment of not having won this trophy – and the few days of recovery that he had allowed him to be on the pace. Since his return and the lost final, he was keen to play the two matches that were before us (Strasbourg and Lens). He wanted to play them to win them and he showed it tonight. He was the trigger for this victory when the meeting was badly embarked at one point. Through his selflessness and his determination, he was able to train the whole team and we were able to win in the last minutes of the match. »
Marquinhos went through all the emotions in this match. He seems to have let his rage burst on the opener, could have doubled the bet then and scored against his camp in the meantime on an unfortunate deviation, like against Croatia. What is the outcome for him tonight?
“Unlike Achraf Hakimi and Kylian, who returned at the last moment having gone to the end of the competition and therefore had the rhythm, I suspected that it was going to be a little difficult for the Mondialists eliminated quite early. They had ten or twelve days of recovery and only four training sessions to prepare for the match. We therefore lacked some benchmarks and rhythm, finally for some. But Marqui is one of those players who immediately found the right tempo. He came close to being decisive twice and showed a certain state of mind. Like Sergio (Ramos) and the whole group, he had this desire not to suffer a draw and to go to the end of his ideas to win.
“I regret that excessive commitment has not been punished more harshly for certain players. It could have generated a little frustration for Ney'”
Like Ney’ (Neymar), who moved a lot to touch the ball and alternated between high and low play. I can understand that there is frustration and anger on his part. He also tried to regain rhythm in just a few sessions. He had a real desire to play the two matches that presented themselves. Unfortunately, that will not be the case. I obviously expected a difficult match. Strasbourg had more than three weeks to prepare, not just for this match, but for an important second part of the season for them. It’s a team that plays well, but also gives off a lot of strength and power. There was a lot of impact in this game. I regret that the excess of commitment was not sanctioned more harshly for certain players. It could have generated a little frustration for Ney’. As far as I can understand the yellow card linked to his simulation, logical, but he takes a nasty blow a few minutes before. His first yellow card seems to me a bit severe compared to the many faults suffered, and not small faults. »
Isn’t the intense joy at the end of the match and the long celebration with the public at the Parc des Princes and the whole group the dream way of relaunching the PSG season?
“This match was very important after six weeks off. We have two close matches, with stakes for everyone. It was also the last game of 2022 at the Parc des Princes. Our supporters have been present since the start of the season. They push hard whenever we need them. Tonight, they pushed a lot. Did the team align with the mindset of the stands or is it the opposite? I think it’s both. There was a real beautiful fellowship when we were led. I find our victory deserved by the efforts made and this ability to overturn the game in numerical inferiority. It’s a great success for our supporters, who, I repeat, have been omnipresent since the start of the season. It is also a very good victory for my players. You have to know how to suffer to win. This is the case tonight and you have to know how to appreciate it at its fair value. »
PSG seem almost unsinkable since the start of the season, oscillating between success and conquering spirit. Are these signs you pay attention to?
“It’s obviously not our best game, but to bring about this success shows a certain state of mind”
“Success, unlike luck, is provoked. The players went after her with a lot of determination. I think of the players who came into play, including Hakimi on his right side. Despite our numerical inferiority, we managed to place Strasbourg in a low block. Carlos Soler entered very well too. The entrants were all dynamic and engaging. It’s obviously not our best game, but bringing about this success shows a certain state of mind. Having him on the post-World Cup recovery match, I really appreciate it. »
El Chadaille Bitshiabu was established for the first time as a professional under your orders. How do you judge his performance and what thought led you to align him on the left side?
“Due to the absence of Nuno Mendes and Juan Bernat, who felt pain in his thigh this morning. We have two close matches, I remind you, so I followed the advice of my medical staff by deciding not to play him tonight to have a chance to find him in Lens (Sunday). Even if there weren’t many of us, we had worked on the possibility that Chad – that’s his nickname in the locker room – could be used on the left. We quickly realized that he was not comfortable on the offensive level, but he was very good defensively on the other hand. We had to change our animation a bit. That’s why we saw him participate very little at times during the meeting. We had to change our way of getting the ball out a bit to be able to exploit El Chadaille’s strengths. But for a first in a context like tonight, he had a very good match. »
Another penalty from Kylian Mbappé. Did it bring back memories for you?
“Kylian has an ability to concentrate and a very strong personality”
“If I’m not mistaken, there were penalties in all matches today. That’s it ? (Except Nantes-Troyes, 0-0) So there was going to be one tonight. It was better that he was for us and at that moment of the match, to allow us to win. Regarding Kylian, he has an ability to concentrate and a very strong personality. Even if there was fatigue, he presented himself directly since he has been designated penalty taker since the start of the season. He did not shake and was decisive. He had scored three in the final (of the World Cup, against Argentina), so there was no way he missed it tonight. »
A word on the announcement of Marco Verratti’s contract extension until 2026, unveiled before the meeting. The Italian was still as influential tonight despite a few scares and a recovery error on the Strasbourg goal.
“This is very good news for the club, the supporters and the coach that I am. Marco, well maybe it will be Marc after a while (laughs), is very marked PSG. I remember Carlo Ancelotti’s words when I asked him about him a few years ago. He told me he was going to be an exceptional player. Ten years later, it is. This is a strong sign from him, but also from the club, which proves that it wants to keep its executive players. I often say that Marco is surely the best in the world at his position. It evolves in a very particular, atypical register. In his position, you have rather players with stature, as was the case with Thiago Motta at PSG. Marco is totally different. It is a great satisfaction to be able to continue to count on him. I think the fans also appreciate his progress. »