Kylian Mbappé, the future of the club, his own ... In the absence of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, absent because he "
really couldn't do otherwise
", it was Leonardo who spoke on Saturday evening after the draw against Lens (1-1).
A draw synonymous with the title of champion of France for PSG.
And not just any title: the tenth in the club's history.
The Parisian sports director therefore answered questions from the press in the mixed zone.
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
The title and the funny atmosphere
: "
We must talk especially about the tenth title, it is important.
We become, with AS Saint-Etienne, the most successful club in France.
It's historic!
Afterwards, it's not just today, we've been living this somewhat surreal situation (with the supporters) for a while.
I think we have to try to understand all of this.
What we want is to experience great evenings, in a positive atmosphere and for everyone to be happy.
This is the basis for a club.
The club was born to live this kind of thing.
Afterwards, we can understand: it was a complicated season.
The defeat against Real Madrid was difficult to digest, difficult for everyone.
It created a less than ideal atmosphere... Afterwards, we managed to react.
In other years, it sometimes happened that after a big defeat,
»
Read alsoLigue 1: champion of France but not king of hearts, PSG offers itself a tenth title with a bitter taste
Decisions to be made this summer
: “
It's normal that there are things to see, things to discuss.
We are aware of it.
We made mistakes.
Every year we make mistakes.
From time to time, they are decisive.
Sometimes a little less... It's normal.
That goes for everyone and for me too.
But now is the time to reflect, to see how things will go, what we want, how we want to get there and establish the strategy to build the new season.
»
With me it's difficult, without me it's impossible, I'm doing a little my "Ibra" saying that
Leonardo
His future
: “
With me it's difficult, without me it's impossible, I'm doing a bit of my "Ibra" (Zlatan Ibrahimovic, editor's note) by saying that (laughs)!
I am always available.
I'm very happy with what I'm doing.
I love the challenge.
When it's difficult, it's even better.
That's why I don't see a better place for this type of challenge...
"
A message to supporters
: “
We know their feelings, it's not as if we didn't know.
There are also things to clarify, by being each in his role, the club, the supporters.
But it is important to fully understand all aspects of the context of an important club like PSG.
We can discuss the "how", but afterwards, there are choices to be made, decisions to be made.
It's normal.
But it's time for everyone to reflect.
»
Kylian Mbappé
: “
He speaks, he is clear.
I really believe what he says and that he is in deep thought, that he has not made up his mind.
He knows what we want, we know what he thinks.
It's a matter of timing, we'll see what decision he makes.
»
Mauricio Pochettino
: “
He still has a year of contract with us.
Afterwards, we'll see a little... in relation to everything.
It's not just a Pochettino question.
It was a heavy season, especially the last few months, it was for everyone.
It's normal that everyone suffered.
We have to speak with everyone, not only the coach but also the players, in order to clarify the situations and decide on the strategy for the new season.
It's a general speech and it's normal, we're going to talk to everyone.
»
Read alsoPSG: "A title is a title", recalls Pochettino
The disappointment over the whole season
:
Don't forget the route.
That's not an excuse.
I made mistakes, that's for sure, I even think I know which ones, we're not going to list them here... In the last three years, it was a different course from this season.
We were looking for a balance.
When I came back, and this is not to talk about me, we didn't make too many investments.
We had done it before.
It's okay to try to do something balanced.
Afterwards, we had the Covid, which represented one more reason to do something quiet, organized.
Then we were post-Covid.
Honestly, without the Covid, we don't have a situation like last summer's transfer window, with five free players in June-July (Paris recruited Messi, Ramos,
Wijnaldum and Donnarumma at the end of their respective contracts with their former club, Ed).
The opportunities presented themselves and we did well to seize them.
There were Gini Wijnaldum, Leo Messi, Sergio Ramos and three youngsters, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Honestly, it's a fabulous transfer window.
It is an abnormal situation.
Afterwards, organizing, managing and transforming this into a result, it's normal for it to be difficult because there are a lot of things.
The wait was long, and that's normal.
It was ours too!
We wanted to advance in C1 for example … Defeats are always orphans.
There, no one is responsible, it's a bit like that (smile).
But we will continue our journey, make our decisions, move forward and I am sure that we will continue to be competitive.
»
Comments collected in the mixed zone
PSG's 10 French championship titles in pictures
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