Christophe Galtier: "There's some excitement"
The Paris Saint-Germain manager answered questions from PSG TV and the media ahead of the game against RC Strasbourg Alsace on Matchday 16 of Ligue 1, tomorrow evening at 21:00 CET at the Parc des Princes. Here are the best bits.
ON MANAGING THE PLAYERS' POST–WORLD CUP EMOTIONS
"I sent messages of support to those who suffered disappointment and messages of congratulations to those who went far in the tournament. They're elite-level footballers, and I think that the best cure for them is to come back to work as quickly as possible, where they're surrounded by their mates, and to get a taste for competitive football again. I've noticed that everyone is mentally ready for us to work together again. I saw Kylian congratulate Leo and the opposition manager during the trophy ceremony, which are signs of respect between our players. What I remember is Kylian's good attitude, as he showed savoir-faire and class despite the disappointment. That's a very good thing for the team and for the club."
ON THE SQUAD'S CONDITION
"With the players who have come back, we've operated on a case-by-case basis, both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, some players were knocked out earlier than others, but Achraf and Kylian were eager to rejoin us very quickly. As long as they're doing well physically and mentally, there's no reason for us to go without them for the next two league games, which will be very important.
"However, it's up to us to think about what will be the right time for them to rest and to decompress in the next few weeks. All of the players who have come back will be available for tomorrow's game. The Spaniards, the Portuguese and the Brazilians had about ten days off, but everyone came back at the agreed date and is training normally. Leo had to go home to Argentina for various celebrations. He'll back with us on 2nd or 3rd January."
ON Neymar JR
"We saw that he'd had a swollen ankle during the World Cup, but he managed to play two games after that. We certainly saw his magnificent goal against Croatia. That means that in the meantime, he was able to receive treatment. After that, he obviously got to enjoy some time off in Brazil. He was being supported by his medical team and is now doing well, both physically and mentally."
ON THE VISIT OF Strasbourg
"There's some excitement because we haven't played a league game in six weeks, and we don't know what other teams will look like tactically or physically. We'll need to approach our games with a lot of professionalism and ambition; this is like the start of a new season for us. I'm expecting a tough game, as they're a team fighting to stay in this league. I've seen from their last few games that they're trying to find a new tactical setup. They've got some very athletic forwards. It would be wrong for us to focus on their league position. After a six-week break, we're starting again from scratch, and that's what I've told the players. Tomorrow, at kick-off, we'll need to be highly focused once again."
on implementing a 'plan c'
"My team and I try to give the players different ways of playing, so we are indeed trying to find a Plan C. Our schedule will be very busy for the second half of the season. I've got a few ideas in mind, but it's still too early to work on a new setup. We'll see over the next few weeks whether a third way of playing could be beneficial for the team.
"Of course, it's easier for the players to get their bearings in a very precise setup. My players got used to working in a system with five defenders at the start of the season before switching to a four-man defence. When I say that I'm looking for another possibility, it's because I don't think that we should stay rooted to what we're doing now. We might pick up injuries or suspensions, so we need to be able to adapt. That said, when everyone is available, it's important to have a standard way of playing that gets the best out of everyone. Above all, that third tactical setup should help me to overcome various absences."
ON Renato Sanches
"I'm convinced that he'll be able to get back to his best. He'll probably start training again after the game against Strasbourg, following on from his bruise. My staff and I have noticed that he's had a very good preparation period. He looked sharp, and his return over the course of the international break showed me that he wasn't far off his best."