PSG never spoke with Zidane, says president Nasser al-Khelaifi after appointing Christophe Galtier as manager
India Today
Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday announced Christophe Galtier as their new manager, hours after they parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi said on Tuesday that the French giants did not approach Zinedine Zidane for the coaching job, putting an end to speculation with the appointment of Christophe Galtier as their new manager.
PSG on Tuesday announced Galtier as their new manager, hours after the Ligue 1 champions parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino. Galtier joins PSG on a two-year contract after leaving OGC Nice in June.
There were rumours about PSG approaching former Real Madrid coach Zidane even as Pochettino was on his way out. However, Al Khelaifi said Gatlier was always their first target for the manager job in the French capital.
"We never talked with Zidane. I love the player and the coach but we never talked with him. Christophe Galtier was always our first option," al-Khelaifi told a news conference on Tuesday.
Notably, Galtier guided Nice to a runners-up finish in the French Cup and fifth place in Ligue 1 last season.
Galtier, 55, led Lille to the Ligue 1 title in the 2020 season following which he joined Nice. Before joining Lille, Galtier spent eight seasons at Saint Etienne, where he won the French Cup in 2012-2013. He becomes PSG"s first French coach since Laurent Blanc in 2013-16.
"I appreciate the responsibility that I have so that PSG can have a great season. I have been getting ready for it. If I have accepted his job it is because I am capable of it. But we have to do it all together," Galtier said on Tuesday.
