Christophe Galtier: 'A high-intensity game'
The Paris Saint-Germain coach gave PSG TV his pre-match analysis of Sunday's Ligue 1 encounter with Lille.
LILLE
There's been a change of coach this season. They're a team with a philosophy based on intense pressing, and they aim to get the ball back quickly. There's also a lot of attacking quality in that team, we'll have to be precise in playing the ball out from the back. But it's belittling to say this is our first real test of the season. Lille are used to high-intensity games, we'll have to perhaps put more effort and intensity in.
COMMITMENT
This is a theme we talk about a lot. Being suspended for protesting too much penalises both the player and the team. We're going to have games every three days from 28 August, it's important that the players are focussed on the game. Intensity is indispensable, but you have to be careful. The players appear receptive on this subject, I speak to all my players, we want to start a game with 11 and finish it with 11. We have to maintain our self-control, and even more so when you've already been booked.
THE VERRATTI/VITINHA DUO
Marco is an experienced player, he knows what the top level is all about. He's very difficult to stop, is intelligent in his positioning, has a lot of technical quality, and connects well with the players further up the pitch. Vitinha likes to get in behind, get forward, he's younger. I'm working on playing them together. There's other possible pairings, but we can't have too many similar profiles, and what seems primordial to me is the use of the ball.
ATTACKING STRENGTH
Leo Messi and Neymar played together during pre-season because Kylian was injured and suspended. That trio works, they try to link up a lot in training. They're a real trio of attackers, and it's always easy to get Kylian Mbappé into a front line.
TRANSFER WINDOW
We have identified our needs based on our style of play and the congested fixture list that lies ahead of us. We want players who'll provide real added value. There's the reality of the market, an economic reality, things aren't always easy. Our style of play is based on winning the ball back quickly, which demands a lot of physical quality, while also having the required technical ability, because we often play against defences that sit deep. So, we have to work on that basis.