Tag: Mauricio Pochettino

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WAYNE ROONEY BACKS MAURICIO POCHETTINO TO TAKE OVER AT MANCHESTER UNITED

Wayne Rooney would choose Mauricio Pochettino over Erik ten Hag to become manager at his former club Manchester United.

United are already on their second manager of the season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost his job in November, with Ralf Rangnick placed in temporary charge until the end of the campaign.

PSG boss Pochettino and Ajax manager Ten Hag are the favourites to take the helm at Old Trafford in the summer, and ex-England striker Rooney made his preference clear.

“I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League, he knows the Premier League,” said Rooney, who won five Premier League titles as a player at United.

“At Tottenham he brought in a lot of young players, and at Southampton as well he brought a lot of young players through, so if I’m choosing between one of them two, that’s who I’d choose.

“I’d go with Pochettino and I’d give him time I think. For managers now they need time to come in and actually make their print on the club and on the team and if they give him time I think he’ll do well.”

Paul Pogba, who is out of contract in the summer, has come under scrutiny for his recent performances at United and Derby boss Rooney believes the midfielder’s stint at the club is nearing an end.

“I think it’s probably got to a point now where it probably is better for him to move on and I think Paul is honest with himself,” Rooney told Sky Sports.

“He probably hasn’t had the impact he would have liked since he returned to Manchester United.

“I watch him play for France and he’s completely different player, the ability, his vision, control of the game, everything is there every game for France and it just hasn’t quite worked at Manchester United for him and I think he’s really one of the few players who needs to move on.”

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MAURICIO POCHETTINO WANTS TO QUIT PSG FOR UNITED JOB

Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly ready to quit his job as manager of Paris Saint-Germain in order to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United boss. Solskjaer was sacked by the Red Devils following an embarrassing defeat to relegation-threatened Watford, which left them 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

United have stated that they hope to first appoint an interim manager until the end of the season, with first team coach Michael Carrick taking charge until that man is brought in.

They will then look to bring in Solskjaer’s long-term successor at the end of the season, with a range of options in the running.

Brendan Rodgers, Erik Ten Hag and Zinedine Zidane are all thought to be seen as potential managers by United.

Pochettino is also understood to be one of the frontrunners, with the Argentine having long drawn the eye of the Red Devils.

His first spell in the Premier League came with Southampton and Tottenham, with Pochettino successful at both clubs.

But he was sacked by Spurs at the end of 2019, after their form fell apart following an appearance in the Champions League final.

He was forced to wait more than a year before his next appointment as a manager, with PSG bringing him in as Thomas Tuchel’s successor.

It has not been an enjoyable stay at the Parc des Princes, with the French giants having been beaten to the Ligue 1 title by Lille last season.

Lionel Messi arrived in the summer after a remarkable transfer window that saw PSG seriously boost their squad.

Despite the super-squad he now has at his disposal, which includes Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Gianluigi Donnarumma, Pochettino is still struggling to stamp his authority in Paris.

The Argentine does remain an attractive option for United and the Daily Mail report he could be brought in much sooner than first thought.

It is stated that Pochettino is ‘ready to answer’ the call from United and is ‘prepared’ to leave PSG immediately.

Pochettino is said to be ‘unhappy’ at the Parc des Princes, with the former Spurs boss currently living in a hotel room with his family still in London.

Personal reasons are not the only thing making him ready to depart though, with the Mail also reporting he is ‘frustrated’ with managing big egos such as Messi.

He is thought to still be admired by United, having first been linked with the job when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2018.

PSG travel to Manchester this week to face United’s fierce rivals Manchester City in the Champions League.

That provides United with the chance to confirm Pochettino’s interest in the job, though the Mail claim no contact has been made between the two parties as of yet.

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PSG CONFIRM LIONEL MESSI KNEE INJURY PROBLEM

Change of Lionel Messi of PSG during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint Germain and Lyon at Parc des Princes on September 19, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Pochettino’s decision to substitute Messi has been further vindicated as the French giant confirm that Lionel Messi was injured during the Ligue 1 tie.

Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to sub off Lionel Messi the other night caused quite a stir.

Finally making his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain in their game with Lyon, Messi hadn’t hit the kind of heights we’ve come to expect of him and, with the score 1-1, he was replaced with 15 minutes to go.

Mauro Icardi went on to get a late winner for PSG, but Messi’s withdrawal – and apparent snub of Pochettino as he made his way to the bench – generated most of the headlines after full-time.

Now, though, it seems Pochettino’s decison to to call the former Barcelona man back to the bench was even more justified.

A statement from PSG has confirmed that Messi has picked up a knee injury which will rule him out of the midweek Ligue 1 fixture with Metz.

Messi is said to have undergone an MRI scan on his left knee earlier in the week which showed signs of bone contusion. The club is expected to provide a further update in the next 48 hours, with PSG’s mouthwatering Champions League clash with Manchester City just a week away.

PSG are also due to play again at the weekend when they host Montpellier. Messi, it would appear, will be a doubt to start that game.

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Mauricio Pochettino confident of keeping Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has said that he is planning for Kylian Mbappe to stay at the club for the 2021-22 campaign.

The France international’s future remains the subject of much speculation, with his contract in Paris due to expire next June.

Real Madrid continue to be credited with an interest in the World Cup winner, although the Spanish outfit’s financial issues will make it difficult for them to sign him before the end of the transfer window.

Pochettino has insisted that the 22-year-old “is motivated” at the club, and the head coach is not expecting to lose the attacker over the next couple of weeks.

“I see that he [Mbappe] is motivated, working hard to making this a great season,” Pochettino told reporters. “He is our player and I don’t see him not being here this season.

“He has a year left on his contract, even if he doesn’t renew it, and he has demonstrated to me that he is happy with us here. He is calm and the club knows what they’re going to do. We know he is our player and that he is preparing for our match tomorrow.”

Mbappe has scored 132 goals and registered 63 assists in 173 appearances for PSG since arriving from Monaco, initially on loan, in July 2017.

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TOTTENHAM HOLD TALKS TO WITH MAURICIO POCHETTINO ABOUT POSSIBLE RETURN

Tottenham have held talks with former boss Mauricio Pochettino about a possible return to the club.

The 49-year-old, who is currently in charge of Paris St Germain, left Spurs in November 2019 after five years in charge and was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

But with Mourinho sacked last month, reports indicate that Spurs have spoken to the Argentinian regarding the potential prospect of a second spell in charge.

Pochettino guided PSG to the semi-finals of the Champions League after taking over from Thomas Tuchel in January, beating Barcelona and Bayern Munich on the way, and won the French Super Cup and the Coupe de France.

But they missed out on the Ligue 1 title to Lille and there are mixed messages about his future in Paris.

The French club were not prepared to comment on “rumours” when approached by the PA news agency and responded by putting out an interview of Pochettino, who has 12 months left on his contract, talking about doing “great things in the future”.

Pochettino, who is understood to be back in London, said in an interview conducted on Monday: “I’m happy with the way the players have adapted to the changes.

“There are many things which could not be changed or which could not be developed for lack of time.

“But I still think that with this way of working, and with the desire to be able to develop other types of ideas on the ground, we will do great things in the future.

“And in a club like Paris St Germain, you are forced to think that perfection is accessible and that winning is the only option.

“And for a club like ours, it’s about winning, winning and winning. And come back to win.

“It requires a great expenditure of energy and always having the certainty that the priority is to be professional and that the difficulties or the obstacles are always surmountable. And it’s my challenge, to impose this idea here.”

Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag and Brighton’s Graham Potter are also candidates, with Antonio Conte also possibly in the frame following his exit from Inter Milan on Wednesday.

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has been linked to the position, but the PA news agency understands there are no plans for talks between the two parties.

Out of all of the candidates, Pochettino would be the most popular appointment among the fans.

Tottenham mounted back-to-back Premier League title challenges under Pochettino before a memorable run to the 2019 Champions League final.

But Spurs, in the midst of building a £1billion stadium, went through two transfer windows without making any signings and that caught up with them at the start of the 2019-20 season.

The nadir was a 7-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich in October 2019, with Pochettino relieved of his duties a month later.

His relationship with the club – and chairman Daniel Levy – remained strong and he spoke about one day returning.

In an interview in April of last year, Pochettino told BT Sport: “It was an amazing journey that finished the way no one wanted it to finish.

“But deep in my heart I am sure our paths will cross again. From the day I left the club, my dream is to be back one day and to try to finish the work we didn’t finish.

“We were so close to winning the Premier League and Champions League.

“Deep inside I want to go back because the fans are so special. Maybe in five years, maybe in 10 years, but before I die I want to manage Tottenham.”

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POCHETINNO TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, GOES INTO ISOLATION.

Paris St Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has tested positive for coronavirus.

The former Tottenham manager only took over at the Parc des Princes on January 2nd and led the club to Trophee des Champions glory on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over Marseille.

But the 48-year-old will now self isolate and is set to miss the club’s next two Ligue 1 fixtures against Angers and Montpellier.

An official club statement read: “The coach of PSG Mauricio Pochettino is confirmed positive in the Sars-Cov2 PCR test.

“He will therefore respect isolation and is subject to the appropriate health protocol. His assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D’Agostino will take over from tomorrow in Angers.”

Victory over rivals Marseille in midweek saw Pochettino win the first major trophy of his managerial career following spells with Espanyol, Southampton and Tottenham during the last decade.

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NEYMAR STARS ON RETURN FROM INJURY AS POCHETTINO WINS FIRST TROPHY AS PSG MANAGER

Neymar scored on his return to action for Paris Saint-Germain as they beat arch rivals Marseille 2-1 to win this season’s Champions Trophy.

The Brazilian rolled home an 85th minute penalty to put PSG two goals ahead following Mauro Icardi’s first-half opener to give new coach Mauricio Pochettino the first trophy of his reign in the French capital, and managerial career.

The Champions Trophy is the French equivalent of a Super Cup, usually contested at the start of the season by the league champions and French Cup winners.

With PSG winning both last season, Marseille had been selected as their opponents as the Ligue 1 runners-up. This season’s edition was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hopes were high for a feisty tussle in Lens after Marseille’s league win at PSG in September ended with five red cards and Neymar accusing Marseille centre back Alvaro Gonzalez of racism in the aftermath.

However it was a largely tame encounter in northern France, with the most noteworthy incident being substitute Neymar’s goalscoring return after a month away.

The 28-year-old hadn’t featured for the French champions since being stretchered off with an ankle injury during a 1-0 defeat to current league leaders Lyon on December 13.

Icardi thought he had given PSG the lead with a 22nd minute tap-in, only to have the goal ruled out for offside after Kylian Mbappe strayed past Marseille’s back line to collect Leandro Paredes’ defence-splitting pass.

Seven minutes later it was Mbappe’s turn to have a goal chalked off when he started his run too early to connect with a long pass from his captain Marquinhos.

Icardi finally put dominant PSG ahead six minutes before the break with a goal typical of his poacher’s style, first meeting Angel Di Maria’s raking long ball with a close-range header that Steven Mandanda pushed onto the post.

The Argentine was quickest to follow up as the ball dribbled back out from the goal, and he tapped in his second goal is as many games since returning from injury.

He almost doubled his side’s lead in first half stoppage time when he hit a left-footed strike back off the crossbar.

Neymar returned to action in the 65th minute and was immediately targeted by Gonzalez, the Argentine fouling the superstar attacker several times in what looked like a continuation of the pair’s spat.

However it was Neymar who had the last laugh when he stepped up to score the decisive second goal for PSG from the penalty spot after Icardi was brought down by Marseille’s substitute keeper Yohann Pele.

Dimitri Payet pulled one back for Marseille with a minute remaining but it was too little too late for Andre Villas-Boas’ side.

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POCHETTINO GETS FIRST WIN AT PSG AS KEAN, ICARDI STRIKES, DOWN BREST AT PARIS.

Mauricio Pochettino claimed his first win with Paris Saint-Germain as the French champions edged closer to the top of the Ligue 1 table by beating Brest 3-0 at home on Saturday.

PSG prevailed through goals by Moise Kean, Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia to be on 39 points from 19 games, one point behind Lyon who salvaged a 2-2 draw at Rennes.

Three days after a lacklustre performance during a 1-1 draw at Saint-Etienne in Pochettino’s debut, PSG failed to impress again but at least bagged three points at the Parc des Princes.

Marquinhos’ header bounced off the post and into the path of Italy forward Kean, who tapped in for his ninth goal in 13 league games.

It took a quick save from Gautier Larsonneur to deny Marquinhos shortly afterwards as PSG kept the pressure on, although the home side were far from convincing and left it late to wrap it up.

Icardi doubled the tally nine minutes from time with a cool finish from Kylian Mbappe’s pass, before Sarabia added the third two minutes later with a crossed shot.

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FRENCH LIGUE 1: PSG DRAW IN POCHETTINO’S FIRST GAME, LYON AND MARSEILLE WIN.

Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge of Paris Saint-Germain ended in a tame 1-1 draw at Saint-Etienne on Wednesday as leader Lyon moved three points clear by beating Lens 3-2 at home.

Lyon made it 15 games unbeaten with Memphis Depay scoring twice, but PSG still jumped up to second place on goal difference because Lille lost 2-1 at home to Angers.

“I am disappointed. We are PSG and we wanted to win,” said Pochettino, who replaced Thomas Tuchel after he was fired late last month. “This is not the result that we wanted.”

Pochettino’s tenure got off to a bad start when veteran winger Romain Hamouma put Saint-Etienne ahead in the 19th minute, after PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye lost the ball near the penalty area.

It was the 100th league goal Hamouma has been involved in, with 57 goals and 43 assists.

Striker Moise Kean equalized soon after when he was teed up by midfielder Marco Verratti.

Kean then shot over the bar with 20 minutes left, just moments after Saint-Etienne striker Denis Bouanga headed against the woodwork.

Lyon totally dominated the first half against Lens and Depay made the breakthrough in the 39th, when he latched onto a defence-splitting pass from midfielder Lucas Paqueta and finished confidently.

It took Lyon less than one minute to double its lead following the break, when a cross from right back Leo Dubois led to a clumsy own goal from defender Steven Fortes.

Maxwell Cornet was then fouled in the box when put clean through by the impressive Paqueta, and Depay converted his sixth penalty of the campaign from a short run up in the 52nd.

Florian Sotoca pulled a fine goal back with a curler into the top right corner, and Cheick Doucoure ensured a nervy finish with a late second goal for Lens.

“Everyone thought it was going to be an easy win for us, but I was worried this would be a difficult game,” Lyon coach Rudi Garcia said. “But our unbeaten run continues and I congratulate the players for that.”

In northern France, Lille was 2-0 down after 11 minutes against Angers, with midfielder Romain Thomas grabbing both, before veteran Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz pulled one back in the 41st.

Marseille Wins

Marseille may now think twice about sending winger Nemanja Radonjic out on loan as planned.

He made the most of a rare start when he headed in Florian Thauvin’s cross close to halftime.

Montpellier is one of the league’s best away sides and midfielder Florent Mollet made it 1-1.

But Marseille’s substitutes made the difference as playmaker Dimitri Payet — surprisingly left on the bench — and Valere Germain netted in the last 10 minutes.

Although Marseille is in fifth place, it has played two games fewer than the top four sides.

Other Matches.

Aleksandr Golovin came off the bench and scored straight away as sixth-place Monaco won 5-2 at struggling Lorient.

The skilful Russia midfielder, who has been out since September with a thigh injury, struck midway through the second half with a fine curling shot from outside the penalty area following a corner.

Striker Ludovic Ajorque netted twice in Strasbourg’s 5-0 win against last-place Nimes.

Also, it was: Brest 2-0 Nice; Nantes 0-0 Rennes; Metz 0-0 Bordeaux; and Reims 0-0 Dijon.

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PSG APPOINTS POCHETINNO AS TUCHEL’S REPLACEMENT.

Paris Saint-Germain have announced the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager on a contract which runs until 2022.

Pochettino replaces Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked on Christmas Eve following a 4-0 win against Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino takes over with PSG third in Ligue 1, a point behind Lyon and Lille.

I am really happy & honoured,” Pochettino wrote on Twitter. “I would like to thank the club’s management for their trust.

“As you know, this club has always held a special place in my heart. I have wonderful memories. I return to the club today with a lot of ambition & humility.”

PSG chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi added: “We are very pleased to welcome Mauricio Pochettino as first team coach. I am proud to see our former captain returning to Paris Saint-Germain, as the club has always remained his home.

“The return of Mauricio fits perfectly with our ambitions and it will be another exciting chapter for the club and one I am positive the fans will enjoy. With the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, Paris Saint-Germain is committed to continue to build and move the club forward over the coming years.”

Sources told ESPN that he had been in negotiations with the French champions for a fortnight before his appointment.

The Argentine spent two years of his playing career at PSG, where he won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001.

With Ligue 1 on winter break, Pochettino’s first game will come against Saint-Etienne on Jan. 6 before the Champions League round of 16 double-header against Barcelona.