PSG boss Galtier plays down Mbappé and Neymar feud rumours
Ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 match at Nice, Galtier spoke about Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Lionel Messi and his team’s style of play.
PSG boss Christophe Galtier spoke to the media two days before his side face Nice in matchday nine of Ligue 1. The French coach played down the importance of the relationship between Neymar and Kylian Mbappé and admitted to being a little disappointed not to have been able to sign another central defender before the end of the transfer window.
Players returning from international duty: “We have focused on the players who have stayed in Paris. I’ve seen a lot of the games our players played in. It was important for the them to get some playing time, especially the Spaniards. We haven’t picked up any major injuries in the international break.”
Hectic period before 2022 World Cup
The World Cup starts soon: “We’re going to play every three days, we’ll be travelling and playing big games. We’re paying a lot of attention to recovery times. We have to focus on managing the squad but also keeping clear heads.
Neymar and Mbappé relationship and link-up
Neymar and Mbappé: “When you have clear objectives, you make sure you have the necessary conditions in which to perform well. You talk about coexisting; I’m surprised I have to keep talking about the same things. Since I arrived, every day that goes by, everything that’s gone on are normal things than happen in a dressing room. There’s nothing that surprises me, nothing that challenges me. The players want to win together and are competing together. They are winners in terms of their competitiveness and their egos. We have a great dressing room. There’s a discrepancy between the stories you hear and what you perceive. That’s not what happens in the dressing room. They get on with each other.”
Mbappé's position at PSG: “His analysis was correct. He doesn’t play the same way with us as he does with the national team. I had a discussion with the president and Luis Campos about the structure of our attack during pre-season. We were all convinced that we needed an attacking player with a different profile. We didn’t sign anyone in the end, which was a pity, but that’s the way it goes. Kylian has a focal point to play off in the French national team (Olivier Giroud). We have a different style of play, with different types of players, but they also have plenty to offer. The relationship between Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian in terms of their technical play is different to what happens in the national team.”
Should Mbappé be prepared to play with less freedom at PSG?: “I don’t think he has less freedom. He’s the focal point of our attacking play. With Giroud for France, he has someone who opens up spaces for him. We don’t have that type of player, but he’s just as clever at linking up with Leo and Ney and receiving the ball in space.”
Transfer window disappointment for Galtier
‘Disappointed’ not to have signed a central defender in the summer: “We were disappointed not to have signed another defender. We would’ve liked to have another defender for the hectic run of games coming up. But it’s very rare to be really happy with a transfer window. Luis Campos and I know that the president did everything that he could for us.”
Lionel Messi returns
Mbappé and Messi back tomorrow: “We’ve let Mbappé get some rest, he trained as normal yesterday. Messi will be back training with the squad tomorrow.”