Ligue 1: PSG enter the season with a new coach but the same ambitions. Will Galtier hit the bullseye?

PSG goes into the new season with a few changes, but still with the biggest ambitions. It seems risky to hire a new coach, who has been doing a great job for a long time, but has never worked with the kind of stars he encountered in Paris. What to expect from the French giant?

The executive team

The biggest changes at PSG this year have not been in the playing staff, but in the implementation team. Mauricio Pochettino has failed to prove himself as a coach and PSG have reached for a surprise name. The new coach is Christophe Galtier, who led Lille to the title in 2021, and has now done well at Nice.

Galtier has, of course, brought in new assistants, in addition to bringing in a new strategic advisor in Luis Campos.

Galtier has long been one of the best coaches in France. And he’s French. It will be interesting to see how he does. He’s never managed a big star, now he’ll manage several. And the biggest ones. He used to like to use a 4-4-2 formation, but we can’t expect that now.

He’ll probably use a three-stopper formation. He used that in the French Super Cup, where PSG beat Nantes 4-0. Galtier can be expected to improve PSG’s defence in particular. This could be very important. In the Champions League, it was the defence that was the reason for the last defeat against Real Madrid.

Goalkeeper

Two world-class goalkeepers, but only one can be number one. While Pochettino gave relatively equal space to both last season, Galtier probably won’t do that. The new number one should be Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Keylor Navas, however, will fight for his place. So it is possible that the situation will change. Either way, PSG need not worry that perhaps they don’t have enough quality in that position. On the contrary.

Defence

Big names, in big games but without adequate performances. That’s roughly how you could sum up PSG’s defensive performance last season. What the club’s defensive players did in the last Champions League match against Real Madrid was insane. And it should not be repeated.

A three-stopper formation should therefore be the safe bet. Sergio Ramos should play on the right, who will be complemented in the stopper trio by Marquinhos and Presnell Kimpembe, who could potentially leave though.

There will be two wing-backs on the flanks. Achraf Hakimi will defend the right side. The left side will be handled by Nuno Mendes. In addition, PSG can use the services of Nordi Mukiele, who will cover both the centre of defence and the right flank.

Overall in the defensive five, PSG will not have much to deal with. The coverage is generally perfect. Just find a system…

Backup

The midfield is a fairly big question mark for PSG. Marco Verratti will undoubtedly be a constant, but who will play alongside him to balance the offense with the defense? In the cup, it was new signing Vitinha, but he’s mainly great going forward. That might not do any good in big games, but in most games it could be an ideal duo.

PSG have a few options for the centre of midfield though. Defensively tuned spitfire midfielders are Danilo Pereira or Idrissa Gueye. Ander Herrera can be used in virtually any way, and Giorginio Wijnaldum will also be ready.

Attack

There is nothing to solve. Even in the new season, one trio will be the main players. Respectively, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé will play alongside each other in attack, with Lionel Messi having a place below them and complementing them.

However, it must be mentioned that PSG’s line-up is variable. Even in its base. He will be able to change the systems and formation during the match. The question is how much Galtier will use this option.

Either way, Mauro Icardi or the new talented signing Hugo Etikité will want to fight for a place. Pablo Sarabia will definitely play his part as well.

The ideal line-up

Donnarumma
Ramos – Marquinhos – Kimpembe
Hakimi – Verratti – Vitinha – Mendes
Messi
Neymar – Mbappé

Ranking tip

Source: PSG, Transfermarkt