PSG’s passengers carry the blame if Poch hits the road
EUROPEAN success for the past two managers to leave Paris Saint-Germain is a statement in itself.
Unai Emery lifted the Europa League with an inferior line-up of Villarreal players. Thomas Tuchel went on to win the Champions League with a talented Chelsea team.
The common denominator? Both had an XI who were willing to put a shift in.
Mauricio Pochettino has seen enough from his egotistical front three – Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe – to know that he cannot get the PSG team playing, on and off the ball, against the big sides in the way he needs them to.
With Manchester United waiting to provide a soft landing, you can see why the former Tottenham boss is letting it be known he is ready to answer the call from Old Trafford.
The way Pochettino made Southampton and Spurs two of the toughest teams to beat in the Premier League shows he knows how to organise a team that wants to work.
The Argentinian turned Tottenham’s defence into the best in the country two seasons running, then took them to the 2019 Champions League final.
With the talent at United – Cristiano Ronaldo included – you could see him joining Emery and Tuchel in succeeding away from that toxic PSG dressing room.
Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry, on TV duty for CBS Sports, articulated the trouble with PSG laid bare for all to see against Manchester City on Wednesday night.
“Pochettino has to get out of that club,” said Carragher. “If he’s got the chance to go to Manchester United... I’d be gone tomorrow.
“I honestly would and it’s because of those three stars [Messi, Mbappe and Neymar].”
Henry weighed in: “If you want to win the Champions League, you cannot defend with seven players. I don’t care who you are.
“You need to have your front three chasing the ball. Do at least the bare minimum.
“We saw it with Tuchel. He couldn’t make PSG defend. As soon as he arrived at Chelsea they listened.”
Chelsea lifted the Champions League with the best defence in the competition last season. City, with the second best back line, reached the final.
Carragher, above, added: “I just don’t believe teams can carry anybody now. Let’s say the four teams, of which I think one will win the Champions League – City, Liverpool, Chelsea or Bayern Munich – they do not carry one passenger.
“They [PSG] are carrying three, they’ve got absolutely no chance of winning the Champions League.”