MY ACCOUNT
Kylian Mbappe will be “at the service of the collective” in Christophe Galtier’s Paris Saint-Germain side, according to the new head coach, who says no player’s importance can outweigh that of the team.
Galtier was confirmed as PSG’s new head coach on Tuesday, with the former Lille and Nice boss replacing Mauricio Pochettino after the Argentine failed to end the club’s wait for Champions League success.
Mbappe was crucial to PSG winning a 10th Ligue 1 title last season, registering more goal involvements (60) than any other player in the top five European leagues in all competitions, scoring 39 times and providing 21 assists.
Having been widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, Mbappe instead elected to sign a new three-year contract with PSG in May, one which some reports claimed could give him power over the club’s recruitment policy and coaching appointments.
But Galtier, while delighted to see Mbappe stay, says the forward will simply be one part of his star-studded squad at the Parc des Princes.
“As a French coach, I was happy that Kylian stayed at PSG. It’s good for PSG, [and for] our championship. I didn’t talk to him, like with any of the players,” Galtier said at his unveiling.
“We know what he brings, we will have to not give him all the responsibility and the weight of the results.
“He is a PSG player, and all these great individuals with whom I am going to be working with are at the service of the collective.
“As in all groups there will be some shortcomings, it will happen. No player will be above the team.
“My objective is that this sum of talents becomes a great team with great strength. I am convinced that together we can have the greatest season possible.
“If players come out of this framework, they will be dismissed.”
PSG embarked on a substantial recruitment spree last year, signing Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nuno Mendes, but still failed to go beyond the Champions League’s round of 16.
The club have been quieter this time around, only adding midfielder Vitinha since appointing Luis Campos as a football advisor last month.
Galtier says he will work collaboratively with Campos – who he partnered at Lille – to shape the Parisians’ squad.
“We are in permanent contact with Luis Campos. He knows what I expect from my team,” Galtier added.
“Does Luis do the recruitment? Yes, But for three years, we have done transfer windows together, no player comes without my agreement, it is very clear.
“If there is anyone who knows the players, it’s him. In the day-to-day management, I want to see the life of the group, the investment of the players.
“Before my intervention, there is a discussion with Luis. I never make a decision without consulting him.”
