Christophe Galtier: 'Impose our style of play'

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The Paris Saint-Germain coach answered questions from PSG TV and the media ahead of the Ligue 1 matchday 14 game against FC Lorient, this Sunday 6 November at 13:00 at the Stade Yves Allainmat. Here are some extracts.

After JUVENTUS

"We quickly turned our attention to the league. We have two matches left before the break. Lorient are the surprise team at the start of the season. They are on the podium. They have a lively and sharp game. The day after the match against Juventus, we quickly switched focus to the league and the need to beat Lorient. In any match, we can be upset. The start will be an important period. We have to impose our style of play. Lorient are a team that are very comfortable at home, they are strong in transitions. We are still working on this so-called balance."

LORIENT

"They are a technical, lively and intelligent team. They like to have the ball, they play a very expansive style of football. There is a lot of movement, a lot of changes of positions. They will want to put a lot of pressure on at the start of the match. They are a team that is very strong in transitions, a bit like Troyes. They have been on the podium since the fifth game. It's not by chance. They are fresh, lively and playful. They are a team that plays without holding back. What Régis Le Bris does with his team is very simple, but also very clever. They defend in a 4-4-2 formation that reminds me of what Christian Gourcuff did for years. He must take that as a compliment. And in his attacking style, his team rotates. It's very flexible. You can see that a lot of work has been done, and that's to his credit. This team takes great pleasure in playing together."

Before the world cup

"The exchange is important between the technical, medical and performance staffs. The club has developed tools to measure as precisely as possible the physical and mental condition of the players. We work a lot. In my way of managing, there are many exchanges, sometimes informal. The players sometimes open up more easily. We have the feeling. And then there are the formal exchanges, on the form, and about this fear. We can't hide the fact that the players may have this fear of not going to the World Cup. I often tell them that they have to play to the maximum, without holding back. That's the best way to prepare."

FATIGUE

"We played a lot, every three days. The match against Lorient will be the 23rd, counting the internationals. There is no break for us, the players are very busy. We are in a very special season with a very busy schedule. That's true for everyone, but we mustn't forget it. It generates fatigue. Runs with Champions League matches in the middle of the week is very tiring. Of course we're a little bit tired, and every player who could play in the World Cup has this fear of injury in his mind. I listen to the players a lot, there must be no unsaid words. I tell them that they must have confidence in what is offered to them in every training session, before and after. The best way to prepare for a good World Cup is to play. But, of course, I listen and make decisions based on what players tell me about their fitness and fatigue levels."

the full Christophe Galtier press conference