The Parisian coach delivers his analysis after the 1-1 draw against Benfica on Wednesday evening, in Lisbon, in C1.
The game : «Benfica produced a very significant burst of energy in the first half by trying to thwart our first outings, pressing us and looking for depth, which involves intense runs. Which still got us in trouble. As much as I found that my team block was well positioned, quite compact, but it lacked too much pressure on the ball carrier in the first period, which generated two or three balls in depth which could have made us doubt and gave hope at Benfica, a very good team. We had a strong moment in the first half after our goal and just before the one we conceded but without creating a lot of situations, even if we had a strong domination in the opposing camp. Afterwards, whammy, this goal, because we took a significant part of the risk in the exit of the ball. In the second period, the team was much aggressive, much more intense in recovering the ball, much higher, there was also much more verticality in the game, with calls from deep, which we really missed. before rest. And we were dangerous, we created a lot of situations without being able to score this second goal.»
Possible regrets in view of the second half : «Yes, but when you look at the game as a whole, each team had highlights and the goalkeepers made important saves. Regrets, yes, but we could also have been more dangerous on our highlight in the first half if we had had more mobility.»
Read alsoPSG’s notes at Benfica: Imperial Donnarumma, Verratti everywhere, Mbappé (too) discreet
The exits of Lionel Messi and Nuno Mendes : «Leo came out tired. He waved at us a minute or two before he left. But it is okay. Regarding Nuno Mendes, he had a big muscular incident. He will obviously be forfeited for a few matches…»
We suspected it would be a difficult match, but it was for both teams.
Christophe Galtier
Fair draw with respect to the content of the game : «We suspected it would be a difficult match, but it was for both teams. We knew that Benfica played like that and that they weren’t going to change their style of play, that they were going to put enormous pressure, that they were going to want to thwart our first outings, but we managed to do it, sometimes with very high risk taking, sometimes it just happened and other times balls were intercepted, which gave Benfica important transitions. But we expected this game and I’m sure my counterpart (Roger Schmidt) expected it too. Both teams had very important highlights scoring only one goal. Is it a fair draw? Most likely. Also in relation to the chances conceded on both sides.»
Mixed feeling : «Yes, mixed, but there was also the desire to get out of the opposing pressure through the short game and between the lines. I think we got there quite often, but behind it, there was a lack of verticality and percussion. Our pistons did not bring enough. We played a lot in the feet when we managed to get the ball out, a lot of stalls, when we had to bring a lot more verticality. It was much better in the second half. But it’s an incredibly intense match against a confident opponent. We played with our characteristics. The fact of having taken the balls behind the defense is that we lacked a much greater pressure on the ball carriers, in particular the central defenders or the midfielder who was stalling, to avoid letting them in a comfort zone and distribute good balls.»
Read alsoChampions League: despite a jewel from Messi, PSG stalls in Lisbon
Lack of pressure on the ball carrier : «The attacking players involved? It would have been necessary to put more pressure but it was not easy. And each time we couldn’t do it, Benfica played behind the back of the defence, which meant that our block fell back a bit for fear of taking this kind of ball… did much better in the second half, there were very few balls behind the defense and better organization which meant that my players managed to put pressure on quite quickly and we won a lot of balls on clearances , and not raises, or on balls intercepted on the first ball outs.»
The disposition of the attacking trio on the phases without the ball, with Neymar on the left and the duo Messi / Mbappé in front : «There was this desire to keep offensive power, because “Ney” is an incredible offensive power, he is very important in this system, but we also wanted to keep density in the heart of the game, with Marco Verratti in front of the defense. . Benfica is a team that puts a lot of people inside, almost four players, and I had to protect the axis of my defense.»
The big foul on Marco Verratti at the end of the first period : «The referee was not helped by his VAR assistants. In the 44th minute, I think Marco Verratti may have a broken leg. The referee is in the game, it’s happening in front of him but it’s difficult. He could be wrong but he still has assistance with the video which should have alerted him to the two feet (of Enzo Fernandez) placed on the tibia of Marco Verratti.»
