Christophe Galtier: ‘It was also the opportunity to change the story’

CHRISTOPHE GALTIER

“There were two different halves. There was the first where I felt that we started the match well, and where the team really enjoyed playing together and creating lots of chances, bringing danger and defending together too. We gave away some chances in the first half, but I thought that a two-goal lead at half-time was deserved. Then there was the second half where we were caught out by a set-piece, when we needed to get out more quickly than we had planned unfortunately. As soon as there is a bit of movement in this area, we are punished. Of course, if the third goal had been for us, the match would have been done and dusted. But it gave Juventus hope again. We gave chances away, our defenders were heroic in the final metres of the pitch to prevent us from conceding a second goal. I think that on the whole, the win was deserved. It’s important for our supporters, for the club, for the player and for me on a personal level. But winning in this manner will also allow the squad to develop because you realise that you need to put in incredible effort at this level of the competition.

But it was also the opportunity to change the story, by beating Juventus. At 2-1, there were questions in people’s heads, in the atmosphere within the Parc, which was magnificent this evening, extraordinary. Changing the story isn’t easy. And I say it again, winning with character helps one and other to grow.” 

MARQUINHOS

"That’s the Champions League for you, matches at the highest level. You have to take advantage of the periods of domination, but in the trickier periods, you have to stay strong. We were at home with an excellent crowd that gave us strength. We had the chance to kill off the match but we didn’t manage to do so. This is what we need to improve in the coming matches. Because in the Champions League, you have to put the match to bed before the opponent manages to score and get back into the match. At the end of the match, it was dangerous but we were able to manage their chances, and the most important thing is the win. We also keep this strength in the difficult times, to know how to suffer but not concede a second goal. That was the most important thing today.

What’s to come? We can’t ease off in terms of effort. If a player needs a breather, we have a full squad to cover them. That’s what makes the strength of a squad. We have a whole season to get through with objectives to meet. You need to know how to rotate the squad so that the team doesn’t ease off. Today the coach made the changes needed to get energy back into the team, and we need to maintain these high levels because we are going to go out and achieve great things this season.”