A very small point. This is what separates PSG from an eleventh title of champion of France which would bring the Parisian club into the history of French football. We will have to negotiate a last trip to Strasbourg, this Saturday evening (9 p.m.), to definitively endorse this unprecedented performance. Christophe Galtier, very relaxed at a press conference this Friday, was not yet ready to take stock of the season and wanted to secure this title before drawing any conclusions. He also spoke about his future in the capital as PSG have set their sights on Luis Enrique to take the bench next season.
Can PSG lose the title?
CHRISTOPHER GALTIER. You did the math! For the moment we are not champions and there are enough matches. I hope we will be tomorrow night!
Can you give us your feelings on Lionel Messi’s two seasons at PSG? What conclusions do you draw?
I wouldn’t talk about last season, even if we were all very happy to see Messi arrive in our league. On this season, Leo has been irreproachable in his investment. I heard Antonetti’s kind words yesterday, Leo is football and it’s true. I saw him every day in training and during our matches. He has very interesting stats, in terms of goals and assists. I hear the remarks, the criticisms but when you have had a season like his, it is a performance for me, especially with a World Cup in the middle of the season. Leo is having a very good season. People always expect a lot more. But it was much better than last season.
How would you rate PSG over the season?
We expect everything as a question! I leave it to you to note, this is not an easy exercise. We are not at the time of the balance sheet. We have control of the trophy, but we will take stock after the two games.
Does Housni have the possibility of digitally replacing Ekitike, who is forfeited?
He will be left at the disposal of the under-19s during their semi-final against OM.
For some of the supporters, this title has a bit of a bitter taste, especially in terms of play? Do you share this analysis?
I understand the remarks, the criticisms, especially since we had defeats at home. Our matches have not always been good. When we have to take stock, we will have to look at what we did in the first part of the season. I can understand the dissatisfaction of the supporters in certain matches against Lorient, Rennes or Lyon. Let’s see how the squad was, like tomorrow. There will be eight absentees. This is the story of a very special season. No player has ever played so many matches. We will do a precise assessment. I hear and accept the criticisms but I also watch all the championships and everyone has had bad times. Here, in Paris, there was a very important slump, especially after the round of 16 against Munich and the defeat in the Coupe de France against OM.
Was the squad undersized this season?
There was the desire to reduce the number of players. Six players arrived, twelve left. There were obligations to meet.
Do you still think you will be on the PSG bench next season and have you met with your management to discuss the subject?
I am in permanent contact with Luis (Campos), we communicate by telephone. I see my president very often. We haven’t talked about next season. That there are names circulating, it’s part of my job, it doesn’t bother me at all. There is what you write, and I what I live on a daily basis.
Looking back, what did PSG miss to win the Champions League?
At the start of each season you have favorites to reach the last four or the final. There have been some big surprises this season in the competition. Is it related to the format of the season? Maybe. We realize all the same that if we had made predictions, no one would have imagined the course of such and such a team. You have to be in good shape in February and we weren’t. Because of the World Cup, the busy schedule and the absence of several important players.
Are you working on next season and what are your projections?
We are working on next season but fortunately! What will happen at the end of the season, you don’t know anything about it and still happy that the club is working on what the workforce should be next season. Everyone is working on what needs to be improved, on the benchmarks that we need to take in Poissy. We are going to make a very precise assessment of what PSG may have missed.
