Paris Saint-Germain have wasted no time in appointing a new head coach after parting company with Mauricio Pochettino – and Arsenal could be positively affected by the decision.
Firstly, a statement via the Ligue 1 giants’ official website confirmed that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss had ended his role at the club, despite only taking over 18 months ago. “Paris Saint-Germain confirm that Mauricio Pochettino has ended his role at the club,” it read.
“The Argentine coach and his team joined the club in January 2021. A former captain of the Rouge & Bleus, Pochettino took charge of 84 competitive games.
Under his tenure, Paris Saint-Germain won the 2020 Trophee des Champions and the 2020/21 Coupe de France, as well as the club’s historic 10th Ligue 1 title last April. The club would like to thank Mauricio Pochettino and his staff for their work and wish them the best for the future.”
Within an hour or so of Pochettino’s departure being confirmed, it was announced that his successor is a three-time best Ligue 1 manager in Christophe Galtier, who has signed a two-year deal at the Parc des Princes.
” Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce that Christophe Galtier has been appointed as first-team head coach. The Frenchman has signed a contract for two seasons until 30th June 2024,” the statement read.
Whilst some Arsenal fans may not be too familiar with Galtier, there is one player who certainly is. Nicolas Pepe played under the Frenchman for two seasons at Lille.
In fact, it can be argued that the new PSG boss knows how to get the perfect tune out of the 27-year-old, who has struggled for consistency since his record £72m transfer in the summer of 2019.
In 62 matches under Galtier, Pepe scored 33 goals and weighed in with 18 assists – his highest goal contribution for any of the eight coaches to have managed him during his career – whether that be on a permanent basis or in Freddie Ljungberg’s case on a short-term temporary role.
And with Arsenal open to selling the Ivorian this summer for £25m, coupled with the winger recently changing his agency with the hope of securing an exit, could a reunion with Galtier be on the cards? After all, Pepe was tipped by the new PSG head coach to end up at the Parc des Princes one day.
“Christophe Galtier imagined me at PSG and even Bayern Munich in what he said,” Pepe told Canal +, as per Goal shortly after his arrival at the Emirates Stadium.
“Arsenal is a choice that may surprise because it is a club that does not play the Champions League but has many ambitions.”
Furthermore, Galtier previously paid Pepe the ultimate compliment by suggesting he was cut from the same cloth as Karim Benzema, while also comparing him to ex-Bayern Munich pair Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, who are widely regarded as two of the best wingers of their generation.
“I was lucky enough to work with Karim Benzema at Lyon. He was much younger. Karim is a natural talent. But Nicolas is also a natural talent, yes,” Galtier told The Ligue 1 show in 2019.
“He has the athletic qualities that a modern top-level footballer needs: speed, penetration, the capacity to maintain intensity in his running and his sprints, he is robust, and he has a very good left foot.”
“He makes me think a lot about the two wide players who play at Bayern Munich every season. He’s left-footed, [Arjen] Robben when he was younger had that capacity to cut inside, eliminate defenders and finish very well.
Franck Ribery is right footed, and also had that capacity to play on the flank and cut inside onto his good foot, he’s that kind of player.”
With Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar – whom Galtier has said he’s keen to keep, amid links to Chelsea – a formidable attacking trio that is the envy of most clubs in the world, Pepe would have his work cut out for regular game time if he were to be reunited with his former manager at PSG.
But if there is a scenario where Galtier pushes for a reunion it will almost certainly be a win-win situation for all parties as Arsenal could get the £25m transfer fee they’ve reportedly set as Pepe’s asking price and the winger would return to France to play under a manager that clearly knows how to get the best out of him.
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