Galtier the man for PSG’s latest change of approach

AFP

Paris, July 7 : Christophe Galtier’s appointment as Paris Saint-Germain coach confirms a change in approach from the Qatar-owned club as they continue their search for elusive Champions League glory, but there will be huge pressure on Mauricio Pochettino’s successor.

Galtier, 55, becomes PSG’s seventh different manager since the Qatari takeover of 2011 as he arrives on a two-year deal.

The new man in the dugout has developed a reputation as an outstanding coach over the last decade in France, enjoying eight years at Saint-Etienne and four years at Lille crowned with the Ligue 1 title in 2021.

However, he lacks the international profile of Pochettino and other predecessors like Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti, or indeed Zinedine Zidane, who had also been linked with the job.

Despite that, Galtier appeared unfazed about the prospect of managing PSG’s squad of superstars as he 

spoke on Tuesday.

“It is a privilege to have a dressing room full of world-class players,” said Galtier, who took Nice to fifth in Ligue 1 and the French Cup final last season. Galtier said there would “not be a revolution”, but his appointment comes after PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi outlined the new approach in a recent interview with the newspaper 

Le Parisien.

“We don’t want to be flashy anymore. No more bling-bling. No more of the shiny stuff,” he said after last year’s recruitment of Lionel Messi and other star names including Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma did not have the 

desired impact. 

Galtier, who played briefly in China, based his success at Lille on a 4-4-2 system that depended first and foremost on a solid defense, even if his side still played exciting 

football going forward.

A similar approach at Nice produced often turgid football, and he knows the expectations will be very different with Kylian Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar at PSG. 

“I will adapt to the players we have here,” he insisted. “First things first we need to win, but with the squad we have and the international reputation of the club we also need to play good football.” 

Galtier’s arrival follows that of Luis Campos, appointed last month to replace sacked sporting director Leonardo.