[ad_1]
Mauricio Pochettino was officially appointed as the new coach of French champion Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday following the firing of Thomas Tuchel and immediately promised to “win in style”.
PSG announced on its website that former Tottenham manager Pochettino had signed a contract until June 30, 2022 with an option for one more year.
“PSG is one of the biggest clubs in the world,” the 48-year-old told the club’s television channel.
“So it’s not just important to win, but to win in style.”
However, he added: “Discipline is important, respect, friendship between the players but also with all the staff.”
The Argentine was the only name in the draw to take over at the club after PSG abruptly ended Tuchel’s involvement on December 24, reportedly over comments deemed 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, who played for the club from 2001 to 2003, said in a PSG statement.
“I return to the club today with a lot of ambition and humility and I am looking forward to working with some of the most talented players in the world,” said Pochettino, adding that he would do everything possible “to give our team the identity of combative and offensive play. “. that Parisian fans have always loved. “
Their priority will be to quench the Qatari-backed club’s hunger for Champions League glory.
Tuchel, who oversaw the first appearance in the Champions League final last season, guided Neymar and company to the knockout stages this season before being fired.
Pochettino’s first big test will be the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 in Barcelona next month.
Pochettino will take over his first match next Saturday in Saint-Etienne when Ligue 1 resumes after the winter break with PSG one point behind the leader in third place.
Applause won
Then, on February 16, he will be plotting the fall of Barcelona’s compatriot Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou, with the return leg on March 6.
Like Tuchel, Pochettino was fired after leading Spurs to their first appearance in a Champions League final, against Liverpool in 2019.
Although he has not yet won any trophies, the level of management of the former PSG defender is high.
Pochettino made Tottenham a consistent Champions League qualifier in four years at the Premier League club before his departure in 2019.
He arrives in the French capital after being linked to several high-profile clubs, such as Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barça.
He will meet the world’s most expensive player Neymar, France’s World Cup winning striker Kylian Mbappé and his teammates at PSG’s first training session after Christmas on Sunday.
His first position as a coach was at the wrestler Espanyol, where in 2009 his first match in charge was against Barcelona.
He earned praise for saving the Spanish team, where he played with fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa in 1998, from relegation.
Son of a farmer from Murphy, in the north of Argentina, he will have under his wing several compatriots such as Mauro Icardi, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes.
Pochettino will be eager to seize the transfer window to bring in new faces, with the French newspaper Le Parisien identifying his former Spurs manager, Inter Milan offensive midfielder Christian Eriksen, as a target.
Dele Alli, who has fallen out of favor with José Mourinho at Tottenham, is another.
Looking ahead, given his relationships with Argentina, Pochettino may be the catalyst for Messi, a six-time Ballon d’Or winner, to consider PSG as potential new employers when he is free to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.
[ad_2]
