“It’s a fucking high and we don’t talk about it.” Visibly annoyed by the agitated extra-sporting news around PSG in recent days, Christophe Galtier called on the media to “refocus the debate on football” during a press conference, Friday October 14, before the clash against Olympique de Marseille at the Parc des Princes, Sunday (8:45 p.m.).
“It’s a peak in the championship, we are undefeated in all competitions, Marseille have just won their two matches in C1. What I want to tell you, in fact, is that you [les journalistes] never talk about footballargued the Parisian coach. We are only on extra football, whatever I can tell you”. If Christophe Galtier’s position is understandable, it is difficult not to mention the climate around PSG, between Mbappé’s supposed departure desires or Mediapart’s revelations about the club’s digital army.
Christophe Galtier, the PSG coach, pugnacious despite a heavy extra-sporting context, wanted to refocus the debate around football and sporting issues two days before the reception of OM in Ligue 1. https://t. co/DrCpBovPv6 pic.twitter.com/QCCvr1OYqS
— THE TEAM (@theteam) October 14, 2022
On Tuesday, the capital club first took the full brunt of rumors of Kylian Mbappé’s discomfort. A little less than five months after his extension with great fanfare at Paris Saint-Germain, the case of the French genius has again caused a lot of ink to flow. So much so that PSG football adviser Luis Campos was forced to come and put out the fire by denying his player’s desire to leave. “For me, it’s clear that Kylian Mbappé will stay on his contract at PSG”he reacted, Tuesday, a few minutes from a decisive Champions League match against Benfica (1-1). A brief respite.
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The next day, after an honorable performance by Mbappé, elected man of the match against the Portuguese, a new controversy set fire to the powder. In question, information from Mediapart revealing the existence of“a digital army” loaded by PSG to attack personalities on social networks between 2018 and 2020. Among them, some of its players, including Kylian Mbappé. Despite the club’s denial, the excitement created by this news was more than enough to eclipse the shock of Sunday evening.
Yet this Classic has everything it takes to sparkle. As the Parisian machine slows down on a sporting level with three consecutive draws, OM are doing quite well. The club has just had two successes in the Champions League against Sporting (4-1, 0-2), a first since the 2011-2012 season. Despite a surprise defeat against Ajaccio (1-2) in Ligue 1 last Saturday, Igor Tudor’s method seems to have proven itself, as evidenced by the complementarity of Alexis Sanchez and Amine Harit in attack.
“It is clear that we are doing well after this victory in the Champions League. The boys are happy, confident, motivated. We know it will be a difficult game but we are in a good period, which has been going on for a while.”
Igor Tudor, OM coachat a press conference
Third at three points behind their rivals, the Phocaeans, who have only won once in twelve years at the Parc des Princes (the last time in 2020 with a goal from Florian Thauvin), therefore have a real chance of recovering in the rankings. But be careful not to ignite… On almost forget it but PSG are still undefeated this season and the return of Lionel Messi, absent since the first leg against Benfica, could well be the start of a clearing in the Parisian sky. Be that as it may, this Classic, with this hasheavy atmosphere, will be a first turning point in the race for the title.