Pablo Sarabia has called on Paris Saint-Germain to "leave aside individualities" ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The midfielder spent last season on loan at Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 15 goals in 29 league appearances.

But Sarabia is now back at PSG and preparing to fight for a place in the squad amid the departures of key personnel such as Angel Di Maria and Xavi Simons.

PSG won Ligue 1 last season, their fourth title in five years, but failed once more to bring their first Champions League trophy back to Paris.

They brought in Lionel Messi to try and help them achieve that goal, but a dramatic collapse to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the last 16 meant their ultimate goal went unfulfilled again.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino was sacked at the end of the season, with former Nice boss Christophe Galtier brought in to replace him.

Sarabia has been impressed by the discipline Galtier has brought to the team and wants the whole squad to form a united front.

"I think in any job, discipline and rules are important," Sarabia told AFP.

"It is necessary for a good cohabitation and to form a good group. I think it will be good for everyone.

"You have to build a good group, leave aside individualities because the most important thing is the collective.

"We see it every year, the teams that are the most united are those that end up winning titles."

Sarabia also commented on his own personal performance, and what he can bring to Galtier's team.

The former Sevilla midfielder added: "Right now, I feel that I am in the best period of my career, with a lot of confidence.

"The most important thing for a team is to have 15, 16, 17 players ready to play, at the same level, because there are a lot of matches.

"Everyone is going to be needed, so I'll be ready for that. I think I can bring work, enthusiasm, goals and assists."

Christophe Galtier says Paris Saint-Germain have plenty of work to do as they adapt to a new system after starting their tour with a win over Kawasaki Frontale.

Goals from Lionel Messi and Arnaud Kalimuendo gave the Ligue 1 champions a 2-1 victory over the champions of Japan at the National Stadium in front of a crowd of over 60,000 on Wednesday.

Galtier, who replaced the sacked Mauricio Pochettino as PSG head coach this month, started with Sergio Ramos, Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos in a back three.

The former Lille and Nice boss felt PSG were fortunate to only concede once in their tour opener, but knows it will take time for them to adapt to a different formation.

He is quoted saying in L'Equipe: "It was a very fast-paced game against a team that is in the middle of its championship, so physically, tactically and technically ready.

"Concerning us, there were good offensive combinations. I liked the way my players put pressure on the pitch loud and clear, which allowed us to be dangerous and create a lot of situations for ourselves.

"We are evolving in a new system, in 3-4-1-2, so we have to assimilate it. We experienced a lot of imbalances and thus conceded far too many situations on our goal.

"It's a big line of work for the coming weeks. We want to be able to have a lot of people [involved] offensively and at the same time to be able to keep a fair balance.

"You have to try to quickly find adjustments and compensations to avoid being caught in transition situations."

The Parisian giants will take on Urawa Red Diamonds in their next match on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of Reims attacker Hugo Ekitike on loan until the end of the 2022-23 season, with an option to buy.

Reports suggest the eventual fee, should the deal be made permanent, will see the Ligue 1 champions pay around €35million for the 20-year-old.

Newcastle United had been linked with Ekitike, with reports suggesting he had turned down a move to the Premier League side in January.

Reims coach Oscar Garcia then quelled fears the forward would leave, suggesting Ekitike wanted to stay unless Real Madrid or Barcelona made an offer.

However, PSG have now swooped in to sign the striker on an initial loan deal as new head coach Christophe Galtier attempts to build a squad capable of competing domestically and in the Champions League.

 

Ekitike emerged as one of the hottest prospects in Europe's top five leagues after a fine 2021-22 Ligue 1 campaign, in which he scored 10 goals and assisted three more.

He contributed a goal involvement every 98 minutes on average and his conversion rate of 32.3 per cent was the second-best among players with 20 or more attempts across Europe, comfortably exceeding his expected goals total of 7.0.

While PSG have acquired a young talent to support Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, Galtier's side are also reportedly interested in Sassuolo forward Gianluca Scamacca.

PSG head coach Christophe Galtier called Neymar a "great player" when questioned about his possible exit from the club, but admitted the size of his squad has to be reduced.

The Brazilian forward has been linked with a move away from the Parc des Princes, with apparent interest from a host of Europe's top clubs.

Neymar has been with PSG for five years, since the club made him the world's most expensive player with a fee that far exceeded €200million.

The former Santos man has won four Ligue 1 titles over his time in the French capital, but his inability to help the club win their first ever Champions League, and subsequent negative fan reaction, has led to rumours of discontent.

He was booed by fans in PSG's first home game after the collapse in the round of 16 Champions League second leg against Real Madrid, where they let a 2-0 lead slip to crash out 3-2 on aggregate after Karim Benzema's hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabeu.

When asked about a possible Neymar departure, Galtier told reporters: "A team is always stronger with great players, and Neymar is one.

"I know where Neymar can be comfortable, whether it's a little higher off the hook or in front of two midfielders.

"I will adapt to the squad I have. We have to reduce it, but I want it to be as good as possible.

"What I want, by having an obviously very strong eleven, is that this eleven is at least as strong with the five possible changes."

Galtier also commented on Kylian Mbappe, who himself looked to be on the move away from Paris until signing a new three-year contract in May.

The former Nice coach added: "We are not going to make him bear all the responsibility, he is a 23-year-old boy who has a certain mastery.

"He knows what people are going to expect from him but there are also other players around.

"Kylian knows what he wants, knows where he wants to go, what he wants to do with his career, so he has that pressure."

Christophe Galtier chose the example of Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea to justify his belief that Paris Saint-Germain can win the Champions League while he pulls the strings.

The former Saint-Etienne, Lille and Nice boss has stepped up by joining a club who not only expect to win Ligue 1 but also harbour a strong desire to be crowned kings of European football.

That is the clear objective for Galtier, and he considers PSG to be handsomely placed to challenge in the 2022-23 season.

Chelsea went through a string of big-name coaches, including Luiz Felipe Scolari, Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink, before caretaker boss Di Matteo delivered the Champions League in the 2011-12 season.

Similarly, PSG have seen Ancelotti, Laurent Blanc, Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino fall short of the club's ultimate target.

Now Galtier gets his chance, and he sees no reason why he should not be the man who succeeds where previous illustrious names failed.

"Do you know who won the first Champions League with Chelsea? Di Matteo," Galtier said. "And would anyone have bet a centime on him?"

Galtier told L'Equipe: "I am very ambitious. I came to Paris to win. There are already three national titles: we have to win them. You have to break records. And in all modesty, I tell you: I came to Paris to win everything."

PSG beat second-tier side Quevilly-Rouen 2-0 in their first game under Galtier on Friday, as Sergio Ramos converted a penalty won by Lionel Messi before academy player Djeidi Gassama sealed the win.

The Ligue 1 champions will fly out to Japan ahead of fixtures with Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka.

Galtier will hope to last longer as PSG boss than Di Matteo managed with Chelsea. Appointed caretaker in March 2012, and subsequently handed the job permanently after FA Cup and Champions League triumphs, the former Blues midfielder was sacked in November of the same year after a string of disappointing results.

Lionel Messi won a penalty that Sergio Ramos converted as Paris Saint-Germain got a new era under Christophe Galtier off to a winning start on Friday.

The French champions, who appointed Galtier as Mauricio Pochettino's successor earlier in July, saw off second-tier side Quevilly-Rouen 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

Galtier named a starting XI containing a mix of big names and younger players, with Messi partnering Mauro Icardi in attack, while Vitinha, signed from Porto, was given a debut in midfield.

Messi played a big part in PSG's opener as he was brought down in the box for a penalty, which Ramos stepped up to convert midway through the first half.

Without Kylian Mbappe and Neymar for their pre-season opener, PSG were rewarded with a second goal early in the second half through 18-year-old academy player Djeidi Gassama.

PSG, who changed their entire side for the second half, will now fly out to Japan ahead of fixtures with Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka.

Marco Verratti plans to seek French citizenship after falling in love with the country during his decade at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Italy midfielder joined PSG from Pescara in July 2012 and has won eight Ligue 1 titles, while also helping PSG reach the 2020 Champions League final.

Verratti was a Euro 2020 winner with the Azzurri, but the 29-year-old now feels such an allegiance to France that he wishes to become a fully fledged citizen of the country.

"Paris is a fantastic city and this country has given me a lot," Verratti told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I feel very French, while remaining Italian. One day, I'll request French nationality, given that my children were born here."

PSG were set to get their pre-season under way on Friday as they faced Quevilly-Rouen in a friendly, their first match since the appointment of head coach Christophe Galtier.

Mauricio Pochettino expressed his pride at ending his Paris Saint-Germain tenure as a Ligue 1 champion after his departure was confirmed.

PSG confirmed Pochettino's long-expected exit on Tuesday, appointing former Lille and Nice coach Christophe Galtier as his replacement on a two-year contract.

Despite PSG winning their 10th Ligue 1 title in dominant fashion last season, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Pochettino since a spectacular collapse in a 3-2 aggregate Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in March.

That represented PSG's fourth last-16 Champions League elimination in the last six seasons, while the former Tottenham boss also missed out on the Ligue 1 title to Lille – coached by Galtier – in his first half-season in France.

Since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) acquired the club in 2011, meanwhile, only Carlo Ancelotti (63.6) has recorded a lower win percentage as PSG boss than Pochettino (65.5).

But writing on Instagram, Pochettino chose to focus on his successes and expressed his gratitude at being given the chance to lead the club, for whom he made 95 appearances as a player.

"I want to wish everyone at PSG the very best for the future – the owners, the board, the players, all the staff and the supporters," Pochettino wrote.

"To Nasser [Al-Khelaifi, PSG president] – I want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of the PSG family again.

"We enjoyed some amazing moments and big wins all together and, as a coaching staff, with every experience we always take learnings to advance our evolution for the future.

"We are proud to finish as league champions at a club that has meant so much to me and my family, from my time here as a player and a captain, and now as a coach."

New Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier has pledged to end predecessor Mauricio Pochettino's practice of rotating between goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas. 

Galtier was announced as PSG's new head coach on Tuesday, with the former Lille and Nice boss signing a two-year deal with the club.

The man who beat PSG to the Ligue 1 title when in charge of Lille during the 2020-21 season takes over a squad containing two world-class goalkeepers in Italy's Euro 2020 hero Donnarumma and three-time Champions League winner Navas.

Pochettino used both goalkeepers often during his one full season in charge of the Parisian giants, with Navas making 26 appearances in all competitions and Donnarumma featuring 24 times.

Donnarumma managed one clean sheet more (nine) than Navas did (eight) despite making two appearances fewer, while the two goalkeepers posted similar save percentage figures (Navas saving 75.76 per cent of shots faced compared to the Italian's 75.27 per cent).

Speaking at his unveiling, Galtier argued having a nominated first-choice shot stopper would provide greater clarity.

"I always work with a number one and a number two," he said. 

"It's easier for me and for them to know their position within the squad. I haven't met them yet, but I will do it very quickly."

PSG conceded 36 goals when winning Ligue 1 last season, the joint-fewest in the league alongside Galtier's former club Nice, who registered one more clean sheet (14) than the champions.  

Neymar has been assured he has a big part to play at Paris Saint-Germain under Christophe Galtier, but the new coach warned there will be action taken against any dissenters.

There has been recent speculation about Neymar's future at PSG, with the French club reportedly open to selling him should an acceptable bid come along.

Chelsea have been linked with a possible move for the Brazilian, who cost the French giants a world-record sum when he arrived in 2017 from Barcelona.

Galtier was confirmed as the new head coach at Parc des Princes on Tuesday, taking over from Mauricio Pochettino.

It was inevitable Galtier would be asked about his plans for Neymar, given the scrutiny the 30-year-old has been coming under, and the former Nice and Lille boss made it clear he can be important in the club's future.

"Which coach wouldn't want to have a player like him in his team?" Galtier said "I have a very precise idea of ​​what I will expect from Neymar.

"I will meet him, listen to him, but I want him to stay. For us, it's always better to have a player of such class with us."

Neymar made 22 Ligue 1 appearances last season, scoring 13 goals and adding six assists. It was the most games he has managed in a 38-game league campaign since joining PSG.

Galtier said he wanted his squad to consist of players "that want to win, that want success and want to enjoy football".

"I am not going to perform a revolution in the dressing room," he said. "I am here to listen and I know I have the support of everyone, from the board, to make decisions, and if any player, whoever it is, does not buy into the project there will be action taken."

Galtier, a surprise Ligue 1 champion with Lille in 2020-21, is taking a step up by joining a team where the expectation is that domestic dominance will be secured.

PSG desperately want to add a Champions League title, too, and a failure in Europe would likely see Galtier come under pressure.

He has the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marquinhos and Marco Verratti at his disposal in a star-packed squad.

Sergio Ramos, the veteran former Real Madrid captain, will also be hoping to be more heavily involved during his second season at PSG after an injury-disrupted first campaign.

Galtier, who said he will take a "different approach" to his usual football style owing to the strengths of his squad, insists there must be unity within the group.

"It is a privilege to have a squad with world-class players," he said. "Firstly, it is about speaking to them, and there won't be any compromises in terms of our strength as a group and the targets that we have set out. We have to have a common project without any compromises."

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 head coach on Tuesday, with the former Lille and Nice boss replacing Mauricio Pochettino after the Argentine failed to end the club's wait for Champions League success.

Mbappe was crucial to PSG winning a 10th Ligue 1 title last season, registering more goal involvements (60) than any other player in the top five European leagues in all competitions, scoring 39 times and providing 21 assists.

Having been widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, Mbappe instead elected to sign a new three-year contract with PSG in May, one which some reports claimed could give him power over the club's recruitment policy and coaching appointments.

But Galtier, while delighted to see Mbappe stay, says the forward will simply be one part of his star-studded squad at the Parc des Princes.

"As a French coach, I was happy that Kylian stayed at PSG. It's good for PSG, [and for] our championship. I didn't talk to him, like with any of the players," Galtier said at his unveiling.

"We know what he brings, we will have to not give him all the responsibility and the weight of the results. 

"He is a PSG player, and all these great individuals with whom I am going to be working with are at the service of the collective.

"As in all groups there will be some shortcomings, it will happen. No player will be above the team. 

"My objective is that this sum of talents becomes a great team with great strength. I am convinced that together we can have the greatest season possible. 

"If players come out of this framework, they will be dismissed."

PSG embarked on a substantial recruitment spree last year, signing Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nuno Mendes, but still failed to go beyond the Champions League's round of 16.

The club have been quieter this time around, only adding midfielder Vitinha since appointing Luis Campos as a football advisor last month.

Galtier says he will work collaboratively with Campos – who he partnered at Lille – to shape the Parisians' squad.

"We are in permanent contact with Luis Campos. He knows what I expect from my team," Galtier added.

"Does Luis do the recruitment? Yes, But for three years, we have done transfer windows together, no player comes without my agreement, it is very clear.

"If there is anyone who knows the players, it's him. In the day-to-day management, I want to see the life of the group, the investment of the players. 

"Before my intervention, there is a discussion with Luis. I never make a decision without consulting him."

Christophe Galtier has been confirmed as the new Paris Saint-Germain head coach after Mauricio Pochettino left the Ligue 1 champions.

PSG won the league by a margin of 15 points in the 2021-22 season, but Pochettino departed on Tuesday following his failure to deliver their first Champions League title.

Galtier is the man who has been trusted to take over at PSG, strongly supported by new sporting director Luis Campos.

Campos and Galtier have worked together previously when they combined at Lille to create the team that pipped PSG to the Ligue 1 title by a point in 2020-21.

 

Galtier left Lille days after they won that championship, joining Nice.

But he spent only a single season on the French Riviera – finishing fifth and reaching the Coupe de France final – before leaving late last month, with Nice bringing back Lucien Favre as his replacement.

That move came as speculation persisted around Galtier's move to PSG, with Pochettino's exit anticipated since the end of last season.

Pochettino's departure was confirmed just hours before Galtier appeared alongside PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi at a news conference.

Galtier will be tasked with finally ending PSG's wait for Champions League glory, their latest failure in the competition coming in a second-leg collapse against eventual winners Real Madrid in the last 16.

He becomes the club's sixth coach since 2012.

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the departure of Mauricio Pochettino, with Christophe Galtier expected to be named as their new head coach later on Tuesday.

Pochettino's dismissal had long been expected, with PSG again failing to find success in the Champions League last season.

The former Tottenham manager did deliver the Ligue 1 title, but a last-16 defeat to Real Madrid in European competition continued the club's wait for continental glory.

A PSG statement only said the club had "ended their collaboration" with Pochettino, although it was expected he would be sacked with Galtier lined up by Luis Campos, the new football advisor who worked with the former Nice coach at Lille.

"The club would like to thank Mauricio Pochettino and his staff for their work and wish them all the best for the future," the statement added.

Pochettino, who spent two and a half years at PSG as a player, had been in charge since January 2021.

He won the Trophee des Champions and Coupe de France in his first season in Paris – the first major honours of his coaching career – before adding the league championship in 2021-22.

But Campos' arrival signalled a close-season rebuild, even with Kylian Mbappe remaining at the club on a new contract following interest from Real Madrid.

PSG will hold a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, with Galtier in line for the top job in the capital.

Christophe Galtier has been confirmed as the new Paris Saint-Germain head coach after Mauricio Pochettino left the Ligue 1 champions.

PSG won the league by a margin of 15 points in the 2021-22 season, but Pochettino departed on Tuesday following his failure to deliver their first Champions League title.

Galtier is the man who has been trusted to take over at PSG, strongly supported by new sporting director Luis Campos.

Campos and Galtier have worked together previously when they combined at Lille to create the team that pipped PSG to the Ligue 1 title by a point in 2020-21.

 

Galtier left Lille days after they won that championship, joining Nice.

But he spent only a single season on the French Riviera – finishing fifth and reaching the Coupe de France final – before leaving late last month, with Nice bringing back Lucien Favre as his replacement.

That move came as speculation persisted around Galtier's move to PSG, with Pochettino's exit anticipated since the end of last season.

Pochettino's departure was confirmed just hours before Galtier appeared alongside PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi at a news conference.

Galtier will be tasked with finally ending PSG's wait for Champions League glory, their latest failure in the competition coming in a second-leg collapse against eventual winners Real Madrid in the last 16.

He becomes the club's sixth coach since 2012.

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the departure of Mauricio Pochettino, with Christophe Galtier expected to be named as their new head coach later on Tuesday.

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