Kylian Mbappe will be “at the service of the collective” in Christophe Galtier’s Paris Saint-Germain side, according to the new head coach, who says no player’s importance can outweigh that of the team.
Galtier was confirmed as PSG’s new coach on Tuesday, with former Lille and Nice manager replacing Mauricio Pochettino after the Argentine midfielder failed to end the club’s wait for UEFA Champions League success.
Kylian Mbappe was instrumental in PSG winning 10 Ligue 1 titles last season, registering more goals (60) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues in all competitions, scoring 39 times, and providing 21 assists.
Expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, Mbappe instead opted to sign a new three-year contract with PSG in May, with some reports saying it could give him power over the club’s recruitment policy and the appointment of coaches.
But Galtier, while happy to see Mbappe live, says the striker will only be part of his star-studded team at Parc des Princes.
“As a French coach, I’m glad Kylian has stayed at PSG. It’s good for PSG, [and] our heroism. I haven’t spoken to him, like any of the other players,” Galtier said in a statement.
“We know what he has brought, we must not give him all the burden and weight of results.
“He is a PSG player, and all these great people I work with work for the team.
“As there will be a shortage in every team, it will happen, no player will be above the team.
“My goal is for this talent to be a great team with great potential. I’m confident that together we can have a great season.
“If the players get out of this system they will be sacked.
PSG started a major recruitment campaign last year, signing Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Nuno Mendes, but failed to qualify for the round of 16 Champions League rounds.
The club has been silent on the matter, adding midfielder Vitinha since appointing Luis Campos as football coach last month.
Galtier says he will work closely with Campos – his Lille partner – to form the Paris squad.
“We are in constant contact with Luis Campos. He knows what I expect from my team,” Galtier said.
“Does Luis hire them? Yes, but for three years, we made exchanges for players together, no player comes without my contract, very clear.
“If anyone knows the players he is, to the day-to-day management I want to see the life of the team, the investment of the players.
“Before I intervened, there was a conversation with Luis. I never made a decision without consulting him.”
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