Four days after its resounding victory against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League (7-2), PSG continues this Saturday with the reception of Troyes in Ligue 1 (5 p.m.).
Present at a press conference this Friday, Christophe Galtier spoke at length about this meeting, the form of the Messi-Neymar-Mbappé trio and the situation of Presnel Kimpembe, back from injury and who could start the meeting.
Achraf Hakimi is he more comfortable in your team since the switch to four defenders?
CHRISTOPHER GALTIER.
Our reflection at the start of the season focused on how we could free up our lanes, our pistons and the specific profile of the attackers, we had started on a reflection of playing with three centrals.
It was very interesting and over the matches, it's a position that demands a lot in terms of volumes, they found it more difficult to participate, being with two midfielders makes it very difficult to recover the ball.
We picked it up lower.
But there is also the recruitment that has been done, with the arrival of players in the heart of the game like Renato, Soler, Ruiz who are specialists in the field.
My reflection following the average matches was to think of modifying to have more density, more technical mastery, to ensure that the offensives could be in the best zones.
We realize that it frees our side,
especially Hakimi who finds spaces with this animation.
Juan is more of a specific four-man defense player.
Presnel Kimpembe returned to competition on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Can he start a match in the shoes of a holder?
Presnel returns in good spirits, it was important for me that he could participate in this Champions League match on Tuesday, that he could have some benchmarks.
He lacked sessions to play against Ajaccio.
Today he is ready to start a match.
Regarding the system;
the presence of the centrals brings a reflection to know if we play with a line of 5, a reflection on what gives the team, but all that generates competition.
With healthy competition, everyone can raise their level of play and I can make bigger rotations.
Presnel was worried when he got his injury with six weeks off.
On the first ten days it was difficult for him mentally.
As soon as he came back to work on the race, he was very focused, motivated, listening to his body,
so as not to cut corners.
I watched, but spoke very little.
I talked to him to find out when he might feel ready.
He needed group sessions.
He is an important player, the only left-hander available among the defenders.
Of course he's going to play.
In defense with four or three, we will see.
I will have to referee but also according to performance.
How will you decide to compose your defense?
There are three specific players who can play in a four-man defense which are Sergio Ramos, Kimpembe and Marquinhos.
Ramos has spent almost his entire career on the left, but it was voluntary to play on the right, and Marqui is not shy about playing on the left.
Kimpembe brings added value with this ability to build the game very low.
They are very high level players.
To have them available, it forces me to make choices, but these are easy choices with players of this level.
What criteria do you use to make a turnover between Messi, Neymar and Mbappé?
On their state of fatigue.
All three performed very well in terms of efficiency and in terms of animation.
When there is this dynamic, we don't break it, we maintain it, we discuss with the medical staff to see what state of form they are in.
They are fine.
There is the reality of the match and we have the obligation to win the match against Troyes.
But I repeat, when there is this osmosis, it is maintained, it does not break.
Then we see in the duration of the match, if we lighten the workload of the offensives.
What is your view on the situation of Hugo Ekitike, who is one of the less used outfield players?
I had a long discussion with Hugo, he cannot be satisfied with his short playing time. I have a share of the responsibility, too.
He arrived very late in the season.
Obviously when you have a trio like the one we have, it requires a lot of investment, resilience, not giving up.
When you play in place of one of the three, you make the comparison.
I had asked him to get closer in the game to midfielders and attacking players, he was sometimes disappointed not to start certain matches.
I talked about it with him, I gave him my reasons.
He is a talented player, who has to make up for his lack of competitive playing time in training.
We have defined that he works more and puts more intensity, he must be visible and confident when he returns.
He may have lost that confidence because he wasn't playing much.
I found his entry interesting against Haifa.
Let him continue to work and after having this exchange, I want us to be attentive and that he frees himself to play more minutes in a match.
