 |
| (L-R) Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier and Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr and Marquinhos attend and Japanese fun the Paris Saint-Germain Japan Tour Kids Clinic at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on July 18, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. |
Paris Saint-Germain’s star-studded squad landed in
Japan on Sunday for a three-game tour against local teams, with new manager
Christophe Galtier hoping to make a strong start.
PSG, featuring attacking trio Kylian Mbappe, Neymar
and Lionel Messi, will take on the J. League’s Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Reds
and Gamba Osaka during a 10-day stay in Japan.
The French champions will then head to Israel to
face Nantes in the French Super Cup in Tel Aviv on August 31.
Galthier will lead PSG for the first time since
arriving from Nice to take over from Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, and the
55-year-old is eager to get started.
“We have three games against very good opposition,” Galthier said at a news conference in Tokyo in front of around 100 reporters.
“Japanese football is at a very high level, with players with good technique and speed. I hope these matches will be good preparation for the French Super Cup in Tel Aviv.”
PSG has brought a squad of 25 players to Japan, and
touched down at Haneda Airport shortly before midday.
The team is scheduled to hold soccer clinics and
open a new academy during their time in Japan.
PSG’s first game will be on Wednesday at Tokyo’s
National Stadium against reigning Frontale, the reigning J-League champions
Kawasaki.
Messi said Japanese football had “taken some big steps forward”.
“They’re very organized and competitive,” said the Argentine star.
“They have become much more physically competitive.”
