To L’Equipe: «The accusations of racism are revenge. I understood that with Mbappé, Messi and Neymar, everything takes on international and global proportions.”
Mg Paris 06/09/2022 – Champions League / Paris Saint Germain-Juventus / photo Matteo Gribaudi/Image Sport in the photo: Christophe Galtier
Christophe Galtier, former PSG coach, found himself in the middle of a media storm from April to December 2023 following the serious accusations made against him by Julien Fournier, then his sporting director at Nice. On 21 December the Nice Criminal Court ruled that Galtier had not committed any crime. Galtier now decides to talk about that process again and not just for the first time at L’Equipe.
«Racism and discrimination are not part of my cultural background because I grew up in an environment in Marseille. It was a shock to go to court on these charges. I took refuge in sport. I didn’t isolate myself. I did not want to. I continued to interact with players and coaches».
Galtier: «The accusations of racism are revenge»
The former PSG coach thanks all the management of the Parisian club, up to Emir Al-Thani. «They were a great comfort to my family and their constant support reassured me that I was the victim of revenge».
The court believed the revenge theory. «It appears from the sentence. The charges against me made no sense. My life path, as a player and as a coach, bears witness to this».
Does Galtier have the feeling that it was immediately a media trial with a verdict already written?
«There was a lot of media exposure. We are in football, a very popular sport in France, at the time I was coach of PSG and it was a social issue. All the ingredients made it very, very media-friendly».
Did you fear for your life?
«For me no. For my loved ones, yes. Because this is a very sensitive topic. When the story came out, I was asked to be careful. I would like to thank PSG again for ensuring my safety. My life has changed. I couldn’t go to public places anymore, I couldn’t enjoy Paris».
The memory of PSG:
«We won the national cup and the championship. It was a real pleasure to coach this group and deal with President Nasser on a daily basis. Of course, things have gotten a lot less pleasant since mid-April».
In the Champions League the exit in the round of 16:
«I’m not discussing the judgment on the season, but the analyses. People have forgotten what happened in the first few months. Ok, we weren’t in a very strong group in the Champions League and we finished second in the group. In the double match of the round of 16 against Bayern Munich, I didn’t have my full squad».
How does Galtier explain it? «The problem was freshness. How to get it? Thanks to the famous rotations. Also, some players didn’t perform as well as today». Like Vitinha? «He had a great start to the season and suffered after the World Cup. Fabian Ruiz had problems. Today they are much more efficient, more balanced”.
So it wasn’t a dressing room split between Messi, Mbappé and Neymar?
«All three had to play together. It was my obsession. Unfortunately we lost Neymar in February. Everyone has forgotten this too».
What is it like to coach these players?
«Management is different. Discussions take place in an office, face to face. They are very individual. With them the slightest reaction, the slightest look, an inappropriate smile, a wink or a gesture takes on international and global proportions. An example: in the first Champions League match against Juve (2-1, 6 September 2022), we win and I feel that we have to eliminate Léo Messi at the end of the match, not to improve who or what but to protect him on a physical level. This choice seemed coherent to me. After the match everyone informed me that it was the first time Messi had come out in a Champions League match. This is where you realize that you are dealing with players who are much more than players».
So Qatar is a kind of exile?
«It’s not like that at all. I didn’t sign in Al-Duhail to go far and because of the trial. Although it is true that having prepared my defense in a calm, serene environment and without media exposure was better».
Were there other proposals? Like Napoli?
«Yes. I received some very interesting proposals. I was still under contract with Paris-SG and there was no direct contact with Napoli».
What does Galtier expect from this season?
«I can work with my staff in a completely different environment, calmer and more serene, with less media exposure. There’s no pressure here and that’s what’s really special».
Napolista ilnapolista © all rights reserved
