Galtier concedes PSG hierarchy will ‘reflect’ on future after latest humiliating loss
Christophe Galtier knows that Paris Saint-Germain’s hierarchy will ‘reflect’ on his future after Sunday’s tough defeat by Rennes, although he believes their portrayal can be explained by a lengthy injury list.
PSG were whistled at half-time and late by an angry home crowd as Karl Toko Ekambi and Arnaud Kalimuendo netted both sides of the break in a routine victory for Rennes.
PSG’s defeat was their first on home soil in Ligue 1 since April 2021, when Galtier led former club Lille to a 1-0 triumph at the Parc des Princes before lifting the Parisians to the title.
While Galtier is likely to win his second domestic title of the season, he has drawn criticism since overseeing a soft Champions League elimination to Bayern Munich earlier this month.
Knowing that PSG’s recent humiliation will do nothing to quell speculation about his position, Galtier told reporters: “I have come for this project for two years, but we are speculating about my future.
“My only obsession is to become champions. This game might make my management think, but we have to put things in context.
“This game shouldn’t call everything into question. There are no excuses, but there are reasons. There are 10 games left, we’re ahead in Ligue 1.
“Losses always upset us. After that, everyone has their reading of the game. You have yours and I have mine.”
“In the current context with so many absentees – although that’s not an excuse – we knew we were going to have defensive swings.”
35 – Paris lost their first home Ligue 1 game since April 3, 2021 (0-1 against Lille), ending a 35-match unbeaten run on home soil (W30 L5). Eternity. #PSGSRFC pic.twitter.com/RbOMTrsaHk
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 19, 2023
Alongside Neymar, who was absent for a long time, PSG were without defenders Achraf Hakimi, Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos in Sunday’s defeat, forcing Galtier to start inexperienced duo El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Timothee Pembele.
Given PSG’s selection crisis, Galtier says criticism of his team’s attitude is unjustified, adding: “The players gave it their all compared to what they had in their legs.
“You get the feeling that the players didn’t give their all, but I don’t feel that way.
“When a player comes into the dressing room and knows eight players are missing and he sees young guys he’s only seen once or twice before…
“My players were invested, after 2-0 against a team like Rennes there can be a little resignation. There’s a lot of tiredness. These aren’t excuses, just elements of context.”
PSG have now lost four of their seven games this season in Ligue 1 against sides currently in the top five (W2 U1), including two against Rennes (also 1-0 in January).
Rennes are also only the third team, after Nancy in 2011/12 and Monaco in 2020/21, to have completed a Ligue 1 double against PSG since the club was acquired by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011.