After passing through Qatar and Saudi Arabia during the week, PSG returns to current affairs this Monday with a 16th final of the Coupe de France against the Pays de Cassel, Petit Poucet of the competition. Parisian coach Christophe Galtier promises to field a competitive team for the occasion in order to allow his players to find rhythm and automatisms while his training has lost twice since the start of the season.
Have you been able to work well in recent days despite the trip to Saudi Arabia?
CHRISTOPHER GALTIER. We were able to work, the match in Riyadh was more than a training session, we played in a competitive environment with a very big atmosphere. The trip allowed us to talk to each other and everyone to focus on the game. Since the restart, we have conceded two defeats, it’s very annoying, we’re not looking for excuses but rather solutions. I spoke with a lot of players so that everyone could get back to the form they had before the World Cup.
Is it possible to see an intense PSG in the game and could the return of Nuno Mendes allow the team to regain this intensity?
We know the importance of Nuno, he had a long absence, we had to be very careful, it was a serious muscle injury. Juan had found himself alone at the post. They are two totally different players, because Nuno is a very vertical, very intense player. We are looking for intensity and verticality, which we have lost in recent weeks. We were forced to reflect on the organization and animation. We did not manage to press on the last matches. We had discussions to define the most suitable place to recover the ball. We are on that job. We will work in this direction. We have profiles that can bring us a lot of things on the offensive animation but we have to be better at losing the ball and more disciplined when the opponent takes the ball out.
Do you intend to replace Pablo Sarabia and do you hope for a recruit by the end of the transfer window?
Pablo left for the reasons we know, the club is working on having an additional attacking player. We are looking for a side player. Concerning Skriniar, I saw the information but will he come this summer? I can not tell you. Will he come this winter? I can not tell you. I have a lot to work on with my players, I want to focus on that. The sports management and the president are working on this aspect.
Is there a sense of urgency to find a real level of play and will Keylor Navas start on Monday?
Keylor will play on Monday. He will chain many matches in the Coupe de France. Is there an emergency? Yes when you are PSG. It turns very quickly behind us. We have to find our game more going, more rhythm and intensity.
Can we expect to see Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé or Neymar starting on Monday?
The best possible team will be lined up on Monday, I want to find automatisms, intensity, there is no reason, and it would even be stupid, to make a certain turnover. We will have a very very competitive team, close to that aligned in the championship. Get young people to play? There is the possibility of five changes, we will see the evolution of the score. I can’t have said a few days ago that we need to work together to put together a team made up mostly of young players.
Are you worried about the state of health of Presnel Kimpembe and more generally the behavior of your defense?
We hope to have Kimpembe over the next few weeks, it is expected that he will return to the sessions, but we will see how he feels. It is a detrimental absence for the group. We know his level of play, a defensive leader and also a left-hander. We will see in the coming days if he can come back. But we cannot be satisfied with what is happening defensively. It can’t just be the defenders.
