Unless the situation turns around, Paris Saint-Germain will know their seventh coach since the arrival of QSI in 2011. After Kombouaré, Ancelotti, Blanc, Émery, Tuchel and Pochettino, it is Christophe Galtier who should recover the torch, with his lot of uncertainties. Despite his immense experience in Ligue 1 and his title won in 2021 with LOSC, the French coach has a fairly weak international experience, especially in the Champions League. Priority choice of Luis Campos, the new sports adviser of the club of the capital, Christophe Galtier will change dimension in a club where the demand for results, especially on the European scene, will be immediate.
Designated co-best coach of L1 in 2013 alongside Carlo Ancelotti, the 55-year-old coach was able to build a solid reputation on the side of Saint-Étienne, Nice but especially in Lille. Mathieu Faure, journalist at So Foot and Nice-Matin, explains to Point that the choice of Galtier is necessarily surprising for the Parisian bench, but that his recent achievements speak for him. “It’s still amazing what’s happening to him. For me, he was above all a very good Ligue 1 coach who had had rare leads abroad, such as Napoli. His advantage is that he succeeded wherever he went, in different contexts each time. It’s such an irrational club that, if it is, it will work with Galtier while with Zidane it might have gone into the wall. »
⚽️�� Coach Christophe Galtier’s stats �� The ideal coach for PSG? pic.twitter.com/svr9yU0L1F
Behind this surprising choice on paper, we inevitably feel the touch of Luis Campos: the new leader of the capital club knew Galtier well in the north of France, with the successes we know. The duo have proven themselves with an effective division of labour: the coach manages the pitch while the Portuguese manager takes care of the backstage. The transfer window is his priority in particular, with the start of important maneuvers. Milan Skriniar, Vitinha and Renato Sanches could be the first reinforcements of this new cycle. But even if this tandem is attractive on paper, the name of Galtier is not unanimous.
Privileged option of the Qataris for several months precisely, Zinédine Zidane did not find a final agreement with the Parisian management. If Christophe Galtier seems to be a plan B, he has in any case a very different coaching profile from his predecessors. “He is a deeply human person, underlines Mathieu Faure. He is very clever in his speech, he will allow on his scale to give a club image a little more sympathetic to PSG. We expected so many things from Mauricio Pochettino… He is undoubtedly the most disappointing coach of the QSI era. We will see for the field but, in the meantime, in a press conference, we will already be less bored. Galtier’s current club, OGC Nice, are reportedly asking for 10 million euros to release him from his contract.
It is not the same to have to manage the competition between Gouiri and Dolberg as to put Neymar on the bench.
A supporter of the 4-4-2 system for many seasons, Christophe Galtier may have to review his plans in Paris. With an unbalanced workforce, in particular too many midfielders and the Messi-Neymar duo to integrate, the equation promises to be perilous. The management of egos will also be one of his most delicate missions on paper. “Will he succeed in shaking up his certainties and adapting to another context? It’s not the same to have to manage the competition between Gouiri and Dolberg as to put Neymar on the bench. But he still had renowned players, with character to manage like Renato Sanches, Dante and Aubameyang, ”explains our colleague.
A month after the resounding announcement of Kylian Mbappé’s extension, PSG is therefore continuing with its major summer project. Besides, is the 2018 world champion compatible with his future coach? “We sold Mbappé a coherent sports project. For once, it’s going the way, with people who will work together for the good of the club. Galtier is aware that the star of PSG today is him, not Neymar or Messi. “There is no doubt that Mbappé will have to be put in the best conditions to continue his state of grace for the year 2022, Galtier knows what remains for him to do.
