Strasbourg 1-1 PSG: Galtier thinks he "deserves a second season at PSG"

PSG went on the road to play Strasbourg for MD37 of Ligue 1 and were held to a 1-1 draw by the hosts, enough for claiming a historic 11th league title, something no other team had done before in the history of the French top-flight division.

This draw earned Christophe Galtier his second Ligue 1 championship and Paris Saint-Germain their 11th league trophy. The coach, who is expected to be fired by the end of next week once the season is completed, has now won the French league, Cup, and Supercup at least once each--not even that will save him from losing his job at the capital, though.

The Parisian contingent will return to their city to properly celebrate their well-earned, hard-fought title and to play a final game at the Parc des Princes to wrap up their disappointing campaign next Saturday when they'll host Clermont for a final matchday.

The coach of PSG, Christophe Galtier, addressed the media in his post-game press conference
after a draw enough to clinch the 11th Ligue 1 title for Paris Saint-Germain and his personal second with just one more game left in the schedule of PSG.

What emotion predominates after the formalization of this title of champion?

"I'm happy because it's a historic title. I'm happy because this afternoon I watched the Bundesliga and being champions is difficult. It was a very special season, we had to stay the course through very difficult times. I pay tribute to my players who never gave up and who always wanted to go for this title. I am very happy. I don't want it to be trivialized. Eight players weren't in the matchday squad but seven of them were still present at the hotel before the match and in the locker room. It shows the spirit that there is in this group, whatever people may think."

Why was Neymar not present?

"Neymar had problems getting around, but he was present yesterday (Friday) in the locker room for the last training session. Don't jump to conclusions. Ney was the first present, and he was playing at an incredible level in the first half of the season. Hugo (Ekitike) could not travel for a health problem. The others were there, in the pre-match, at half-time, and to celebrate this title."

Is this happiness comparable to that when you won the title with Lille?

"They are different emotions. When we were champions with Lille, it was an incredible performance to finish ahead of PSG, and it was unexpected. Nobody could think that Lille would be the champion. In Paris, there is this obligation of getting results. I am not relieved, I am very happy that PSG are champions, to have led this team, and that we were able to lead them to the title. The emotions are not the same."

This season was very different from the perspectives of the results compared to the numbers...

"It's normal for it to be that way because when you are eliminated against OM (in the French Cup) it is a poor performance. Same in the Champions League. It's normal for it to be that way when you lose against Rennes, Lyon, or Lorient even if the contexts are different. The fair analysis you don't want to do is that there was a pre-World Cup PSG and a post-World Cup PSG with very important players who couldn't play after that tournament."

Will you defend this title with PSG next season?

"I said yesterday that there is everything you can say, write, analyze, remark, malice, disrespect, etc... Then, there is everything I experience internally, in this second part of the season, with my coworkers, the players, and the management. There is a big gap between what the media can say and what I experience on a daily basis."

Do you think you deserve a second season at PSG?

"Yes. Why? Because I gave it all this season, with a lot of energy. We have been able to stay the course in very difficult times, on a personal and professional level. You did not spare me. We are champions, we've won the Ligue 1. Catastrophic seasons are when PSG are not champions. We did not achieve the goal in the Coupe de France and the Champions League, but it was very complicated. Yes, I feel, personally, that I deserve to continue."

Those above you think the same?

"I don't know. I told to you."