TheNewsGuru

Tag: Pochettino

  • PSG chiefs meet to sack Mauricio Pochettino

    PSG chiefs meet to sack Mauricio Pochettino

    Paris Saint-Germain chiefs are ready to sack coach Mauricio Pochettino.

    The Ligue 1 champs are finalising the sacking of Pochettino in the coming days and announce the departure of director of Leonardo, as they begin to make changes.

    The former Tottenham boss is under contract with the French outfit until the end of next season, but speculation surrounding his future has been mounting for months, after the French giants disappointing exit from the Champions League.

    Despite winning the Ligue 1 league title, It has been reported that just one more meeting is needed for PSG to make an official decision on the Argentine’s future at the club.

    Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported: “Paris Saint-Germain are oriented to sacking Mauricio Pochettino in the coming days. One more meeting is needed to make an official decision – it will take place once Nasser Al Khelaifi’s back.

    “Leonardo’s departure will be announced very soon, with Campos set to join PSG.”

  • I know PSG can beat Real Madrid – Pochettino

    I know PSG can beat Real Madrid – Pochettino

    Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino insists they can beat Real Madrid.

    PSG will meet Real in the Champions League round of 16 later this season.

    Pochettino said: “It will be a difficult double confrontation because it is a team that has a great coach and great players. We are going to face Real Madrid, which is a team used to winning the Champions League, a team with history and a lot of experience. So it is clear that we will have to play a very difficult game.

    “Of course, we have to have confidence. We have a great team, great footballers, with a lot of talent and I have no doubt that we will arrive in the best possible way and always with a lot of confidence in our players. We have enough quality to win this match and go to the next round. This is the goal of Paris Saint-Germain.”

  • ​PSG players believe Zidane ready to replace Pochettino

    ​PSG players believe Zidane ready to replace Pochettino

    Players at Paris Saint-Germain are convinced that Zinedine Zidane is set to take over from Mauricio Pochettino as manager.

    Pochettino is heavily linked to

    the job at Manchester United, who sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday.

    According to Marca, there is a real suggestion that Zidane may go to PSG, provided they release Pochettino to join United.

    Despite PSG being top of the French Ligue 1 at present, Pochettino is unhappy with the inner workings at the club.

    He has friction with sporting director Leonardo, while his family still lives in England.

  • Solksjaer: Pochettino Ready To Quit PSG For Manchester United Job – Reports

    Solksjaer: Pochettino Ready To Quit PSG For Manchester United Job – Reports

    Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino is ready to take up the reins at Manchester United if the English giants reach out to him.

    Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, who fell out of favour with the board and club faithful, has been replaced by Michael Carrick, while they look to appoint an interim boss until the end of the season.

    It is understood that Pochettino is prepared to vacate his position at PSG because he is unhappy in Paris, according to reports.

    The former Tottenham boss was a heavy favourite for the Red Devils job after Jose Mourinho was relieved of his position in December 2018 and is still hugely admired by certain quarters of the Old Trafford ladder.

    Interestingly, the Argentine will be in Manchester on Tuesday ahead of his team’s clash with Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday; however, United are yet to make any official contact with him.

    Also in support of the 49-year-old taking charge at United is a club legend, Gary Neville who claimed Pochettino wouldn’t think twice at the job offer

    “I think Mauricio Pochettino – although he’d never say it – would leave to come to Man Utd on a five-year deal tomorrow,” Neville said in an interview with Skysports.

    “He’d look at that group of players, he’d look at the club and he’d realise he’d probably be able to achieve more than he wants at Manchester United in terms of a project.”

    Speaking on the United philosophy he said: “At PSG you are on a season by season, ‘you’ve got to win the Champions League or you’re out, type of model.”I don’t think that suits Pochettino. I think he would absolutely come to Manchester United on a five-year deal, with backing behind him.”

    Pochettino has also been said to be increasingly frustrated at managing a dressing-room with big egos like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe and would love out of the club.

    Leicester City boss, Brendan Rodgers, has been heavily linked with the United job with the club willing to pay £8 million in compensation to the Foxes.

    Rodgers also has a contract clause allowing him to speak to certain clubs if they require the Scottishman’s services.

    Also in the running are Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag, who has been reported to be unavailable until the summer and Ralf Rangnick, the current head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow.

  • Ligue 1: Pochettino says ‘no issues’ with Messi after substitution

    Ligue 1: Pochettino says ‘no issues’ with Messi after substitution

    Mauricio Pochettino said there are “no issues” with Lionel Messi after the Paris Saint-Germain superstar’s reaction to being substituted during Sunday’s 2-1 win over Ligue 1 rivals, Lyon.

    Messi had a puzzled look on his face as he walked past PSG head coach Pochettino, after been replaced by full-back Achraf Hakimi in the 76th minute of the game.

    Pochettino and Messi briefly exchanged words before the latter, who was making his home debut at the Parc des Princes following his blockbuster arrival from Barcelona.

    Messi was involved in six shots (four attempts, two chances created) against Lyon and only Kylian Mbappe against Clermont (seven) has managed better in a league game so far this season for PSG.

    A six-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi also had 65 touches and made 48 passes with an accuracy of 83.3 per cent.

    Pochettino told a media conference: “I think everyone knows that we have many great players, with a 35-man squad.

    “We have to make choices, within the matchday squad and then during the game, keeping in mind what’s best for the team and every player.

    “Sometimes the decisions are positive, or not, but that’s what managers are there to do on the sidelines, to make decisions. It can please people or not.

    “I asked him how he was and he said he was fine, no issues.”

    PSG secured victory over Lyon following a dramatic injury-time header from substitute Mauro Icardi from Mbappe’s cross after Neymar’s penalty had earlier cancelled out Lucas Paqueta’s opening goal.

    Pochettino’s PSG are now five points clear of Marseille at the top of Ligue 1 after six wins from six games.

    PSG have achieved a flawless start from their first six games for the third time after 2017-18 and 2018-19 – on both those occasions they went on to be crowned champions.

    “It’s very positive for us,” Pochettino said of their start to the Ligue 1 campaign.

    “After the difficult game (against Club Brugge in the Champions League), this was important for us. Lyon are a very good team that play well.

    “We conceded that goal in the second half. The team needed to show some character.

    “We’re in a period where we’re trying a lot of things. We have to work on it in training, but it’s difficult because we have a game every three days, and the priority is that the players recover.

    “We can only do video sessions. It’s not an excuse, we need to improve.”

  • Mbappe informs Pochettino of contract decision at PSG

    Mbappe informs Pochettino of contract decision at PSG

    Kylian Mbappe has ruled out signing a new deal with PSG.

    The 22-year-old has just one year left on his deal at the Parc des Princes having scored 132 goals in 171 appearances since moving to the French capital from Monaco in 2017.

    And he as told Mauricio Pochettino that he has no desire to extend his contract.

    Marca says the forward has informed his manager Pochettino that he does not want to extend his contract with the club, though Mbappe will not force a move away from PSG.

    Real Madrid are waiting in the wings to find the perfect opportunity to sign Mbappe, after their patience paid off in snapping up David Alaba on a free transfer from Bayern Munich this summer.

  • We didn’t match Man City in second-half – Pochettino

    We didn’t match Man City in second-half – Pochettino

    Mauricio Pochettino admits PSG lacked enough to energy to stay with Manchester City in the second-half of the Champions League semi-final first leg.

    PSG were dominant in the first-half and deservedly lead at the break thanks to a header from Marquinhos.

    However, the home side allowed City to take control in the second stanza and eventually lost 2-1.

    Pochettino said after the game: “There were two different halves, we did well in the first half but it is difficult to eliminate a team like City. We deserved to be ahead but they were better than us and dominated the second half. The two goals were accidents, but they created more than us. It was one half for each team.

    “The two goals are very disappointing. It is difficult to accept but that can happen, and it has happened in a semi-final. It is very painful.

    “It is difficult to explain why they were better but we were better in the first half. It was difficult to cope, their physical condition, they were more aggressive. We didn’t show the energy you need. The red card could be yellow, could be red, it was an action.

    “The second leg, in football you need to believe. They have the advantage.”

  • I’ll fight to keep Mbappe at PSG – Pochettino

    I’ll fight to keep Mbappe at PSG – Pochettino

    Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino is determined not to lose Kylian Mbappe.

    With Real Madrid and Liverpool keen, the France international’s current contract with the Ligue 1 champions expires next summer and talks over a new deal have yet to bear fruit.

    The Argentine said: “The objective is to keep the best players.

    “The club wants to win the Champions League and the objective of this club is to keep Neymar and Kylian for many years.

    “For three months we have had a very good relationship. Both players are very committed to the club. Every team wants to have them in their ranks. I am optimistic that they will stay.

    “After sharing a changing room with Kylian for three months, I will fight with all my might to keep him with us.”

  • PSG are not UEFA Champions League favourites – Pochettino

    PSG are not UEFA Champions League favourites – Pochettino

    Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) head coach Mauricio Pochettino does not believe his team are favourites to win the UEFA Champions League after eliminating title-holders Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

    PSG advanced to the semi-finals for the second successive season on away goals after the blockbuster tie ended 3-3 following Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at home to Bayern Munich.

    Ligue 1 champions PSG by this thus exacted some revenge after moving through to the final four, having lost last season’s decider to Bayern Munich.

    PSG will face either Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, while Chelsea are set to meet the winners of the Liverpool-Real Madrid clash.

    Pochettino, meanwhile, dismissed the idea that PSG are the main contenders to win the Champions League this season.

    “I don’t think so,” Pochettino told reporters when asked if PSG are favourites.

    “We have beaten FC Barcelona in the last 16 in two games, and we have beaten Bayern Munich now in two games too. I think we deserved to win both ties.

    “But I don’t think PSG are the main contenders to win the Champions League. There are still rivals in. We have qualified and Chelsea did today as well.

    “We will see in the other ties —— Manchester City versus Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool versus Real Madrid. But we also know that any team in the semi-finals have the same options to win.”

    PSG’s elimination of Bayern Munich is the first instance in Champions League history of the previous season’s losing finalists eliminating the holders in the knockout stages.

    French giants PSG have reached the semi-finals for the second season in a row.

    This was after managing to reach the final four only once in their previous 11 campaigns in the competition before that —— their first in 1994/1995.

    PSG, though, failed to score at home in the Champions League for the first time in 24 games, since a 0-0 draw with Real Madrid in October 2015.

    Asked to pick between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, the former Tottenham Manager —- who led Spurs to the 2018/2019 Champions League final —— was non-commitment.

    “We have faced FC Barcelona in the last 16, playing two games. We have also eliminated Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

    “We don’t choose one or other rival. The one we play, we will try to beat them. If you are wondering we can or not beat them, we will see.”

  • PSG appoints Pochettino as new coach after Tuchel’s sacking

    PSG appoints Pochettino as new coach after Tuchel’s sacking

    Mauricio Pochettino has been announced as the new coach of French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

    This following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

    PSG said on its website that former Tottenham manager Pochettino had signed a contract until June 30, 2022, with an option for an additional year.

    The 48-year-old Argentine was the only name in the frame to take over at the club where he played from 2001 to 2003 after PSG abruptly ended Tuchel’s involvement on December 24, reportedly for comments viewed as critical of the Qatari owners.

    “This club has always held a special place in my heart. I have wonderful memories, especially of the unique atmosphere of the Parc des Princes,” Pochettino said in the PSG statement.

    “I return to the club today with a lot of ambition and humility, and am eager to work with some of the world’s most talented players,” Pochettino said, adding he would do his utmost “to give our team the combative and attacking playing identity that Parisian fans have always loved.”

    His priority will be to sate the Qatari-backed club’s quest for Champions League glory.

    Tuchel, who oversaw the club’s first-ever Champions League final appearance last season, guided Neymar and company into the knock-out stages this season before being axed.

    Pochettino’s first major test will be the Champions League last-16 away leg at Barcelona next month.

    Pochettino will take charge of his first match next Saturday at Saint-Etienne as Ligue 1 resumes after the winter break with PSG one point off the leaders in third.