The title of champion of France: “I am happy. It is a historic title, we must pay tribute to all the predecessors. Happy also because I watched the multiplex in Germany and we realize that being champion is very difficult (first before the last day of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund was doubled on the wire by Bayern, editor’s note ). I repeat it once again, even if no one wants to hear it, it’s a very special season. We had to stay the course even when we thought everyone had their heads underwater and in very difficult times. Obviously, I pay tribute to my players, who never gave up and always wanted to go for this title, even in very difficult times. I’m very happy and I don’t want it to be trivialized. Today we were missing eight players. Seven of them made the trip, they were present before the match at the hotel and in the locker room. It shows the state of mind that there was in this group, whatever people may think. Neymar wasn’t there, he had problems getting around, but he was everywhere yesterday (Friday), he was there on the last training session in the locker room. Do not draw conclusions from the fact of his absence in Strasbourg. He was omnipresent. He was of an incredible level in the first part of the season. It’s been 14 matches without him. Hugo Ekitike was also not there due to a health problem. Otherwise, the others were present in the preparation for the match, at halftime. And of course to celebrate with their partners this title of champion of France.
The same happiness as during the title with Lille… or not: “It’s different. They are different emotions. When we were champions with Losc, it was an incredible performance to finish ahead of PSG, but also in a particular season, with the Covid. We knew how to be champions. It was unexpected. No one could have thought that Losc would be champions. When you arrive at PSG, there is this obligation of result, and not only. The emotion is totally different. I am not relieved, I am very happy that PSG are champions and to have led this team, that we were able to bring it to this title. But the flavors are obviously not the same.”
Paradoxical Season: “Critics? It’s normal for things to brew… When you are eliminated in the Coupe de France in Marseille (2-1 in the round of 16), it’s a poor performance because you are PSG. There were significant absentees as well. When you are eliminated in the Champions League too… Everyone is waiting for PSG in the last four. But it’s not easy… And the C1 has shown this year that it’s a very difficult competition, with a lot of surprises. It’s normal for things to brew when you lose at home against Rennes, Lyon and Lorient (in Ligue 1), even if the contexts were different. The correct analysis that you (journalists) do not want to do, it is not interesting for you to do it, is that there was a PSG before the World Cup and a PSG after, with players very important who, for some, have missed 15, 16 or 17 matches.
What PSG lacks: “You have to be in good shape in February-March, already before to qualify. We had our course in C1 without defeat… and we finished second in our pool. It was historic, in terms of the number of goals scored away from home… We were able to perform well but unfortunately we finished second. To be successful in C1 in 8th, you have to have a workforce in the best possible conditions, and that was not the case at that time.
His future at PSG: “I said in the pre-match press conference that there is everything you can say, and that is your job, the analyses, the criticisms, the remarks, the nastiness, the lack of respect for some, and everything that I have experienced internally throughout the season and in this second part of the season, with my players, my leaders, the management of the club. There is a big gap between what the media can say and what I experience on a daily basis. If I deserve a second season? Yes. For what ? Because I gave it my all in this season, with a lot of energy throughout. We knew and I knew how to stay the course in very difficult times, on a professional or personal level. You (journalists) have not spared me. We are champion of France. We won the Champions Trophy. Catastrophic seasons at PSG are when you’re not a champion. It unfortunately happened. We have achieved a clearly defined objective. We did not reach the goal in the Coupe de France and in the Champions League but it was very complicated in the second part of the season. But, personally, I feel that I deserve to continue. Do the leaders agree? You don’t know that yourself. And me ? I answered you just now.
Statements taken at a press conference