PARIS (AP) – Christophe Galtier became the seventh coach of Paris Saint-Germain in 11 years of ownership of Qatar after Mauricio Pochettino was sacked on Tuesday.
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi introduced Galtier to the media at a press conference and said: “We have a new era to start, a new atmosphere, new goals”.
Galtier said he felt “emotional” and “proud” of taking on a two-year contract.
“We have to work the right way to make people happy,” said Galtier. “I am prepared. If I accepted this job and this responsibility, it is because I am capable of it ”.
Galtier said there will be no favors for the champions who have long been perceived as being overly indulged at PSG.
“Commitment, respect and above all the team. If, unfortunately, players stray from that, they will be excluded, “said Galtier.” No player will be above what a team should be. I am a very demanding coach. “
Galtier has urged a smaller team but wants Neymar to include injuries. PSG also boasts Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
“You have to find a balance on the sides, but I have a very clear idea of what I expect from Neymar. Obviously I want it to stay. It is better to have world-class players with you ”.
Long considered too close to the stars, al-Khelaifi also called for an improved mentality.
“Nobody is above the club,” he said. “If a player doesn’t want to abide by the rules in place, then he has no place here.”
Al-Khelaifi said former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has not been contacted.
“We never talked to Zidane,” he said. “Christophe has been our # 1 option from the start.”
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Pochettino still had a one-year contract. He has followed Thomas Tuchel, Unai Emery and Laurent Blanc in their dismissal from PSG since 2016.
Pochettino won the French league but ultimately paid the price for the club’s humiliating exit from the Champions League at Real Madrid in the round of 16. PSG were leading 2-0 overall and conceded three goals in 20 minutes.
Galtier led Lille to the French title in 2021 and joined Nice last season, finishing fifth but knocking PSG out of the French Cup. Nice drew and beat PSG in the league last season. Nice do not concede a goal and Galtier’s shrewd tactical sense stands out.
When he led Lille to the 2021 title, his team drew at home with PSG and won away, again without conceding a goal. Galtier figured out how to exclude PSG’s attacking army made up of Mbappé, Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Messi.
The 55-year-old Galtier played for Marseille, where he was born, during two stints as a worker defender. His career ended in 1998 in the darkness of the Italian club Monza.
He improved Saint-Etienne’s fortunes when he coached there, winning the League Cup in 2013, the year in which he was voted best coach of the French league alongside PSG’s Carlo Ancelotti.
Since cash-rich QSI investors from Qatar took over in June 2011, Ancelotti is the only manager not to be fired, leaving for Real Madrid in 2013. But Ancelotti was only hired after Antoine Kombouare was surprisingly fired in December 2011, when PSG were three points clear of the top.
Mixed disc by Pochettino
Former PSG defender Pochettino took office in January 2021 after Tuchel was sacked.
After reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2021, PSG lost the French league to Galtier’s Lille. Oddly, perhaps, Pochettino’s contract was extended by one year until 2023.
Although PSG claimed the French title last season, there have been alarming performances along the way and Mbappé’s exceptional form has covered obvious cracks. These weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed by Real Madrid in the Champions League.
PSG’s lack of composure under pressure was a familiar flaw and Pochettino did not solve it.
In 2017, PSG were beaten 6-1 by Barcelona after winning 4-0 at home, and two years later an injury-stricken Manchester United won 3-1 in Paris in injury time.
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