Whether you want Mauricio Pochettino at Manchester United or not, the manner of PSG’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid was not good.
If you don’t want Pochettino at United and prefer Erik Ten Hag; be worried, because if Pochettino is sacked by PSG, the Glazers may now jump on him because he would be the cheaper option and no compensation fee would be required.
For those who still want Pochettino at Old Trafford, the result was still a deeply worrying one. PSG surrendered a 2-0 aggregate lead with 30 minutes to go, losing 3-2 thanks to a Karim Benzema hat-trick.
PSG’s error prone players should take the blame, but it is far easier for the Ligue 1 side to direct anger towards the manager, and fire another boss as they fall short of winning the Champions League once again.
How the French press reacted
In predictable fashion, Pochettino is already being ushered towards the PSG exit door.
French newspaper Le Parisien‘s headline reads: ‘Pochettino towards the exit’, and compare this to the defeat to Barcelona which led to Unai Emery being fired.
Their editorial reads: “Parisian coach Mauricio Pochettino could bear the brunt of this elimination at the end of the season. But we will also have to rethink this team in the midfield, where the shortcomings are glaring. Decisions have to be made.”
Leonardo backs Pochettino
For now, officially, Pochettino’s job is safe. Sporting director Leonardo came out to back Pochettino publicly after the loss.
He said Pochettino’s job this season is safe, although made no commitment beyond that.
Leonardo told RMC Sport: “We must not throw everything away and put everything in the trash. We don’t have to start all over again with each defeat. The objective is to win the Champions League, and until half-time of this match we were fine.
“We must try to improve this team and keep the morale up to play in Ligue 1 and end the season well. We have to stay together. Pochettino is still in the draft this season. Now is not the time to think about that.”
The sporting director may be sweating over his own position too. Le Parisien‘s headline also led with ‘Leonardo weakened’, as a result of the defeat.
Pochettino unhappy
Pochettino was unhappy after the game, venting at the referee and VAR officials for decisions he felt went against his team.
He also told RMC Sport he was at a loss to explain his team’s collapse, commenting: “The qualification was played out over these ten minutes. We were the best team in the two games. Football is about managing the moments of the matches well, it is true that we collapsed a little. It is impossible to explain.”
The Argentine remains in contention for the United job, with the MEN reporting this week he is considered the favourite. Like it or not, United’s task of hiring him has probably got a lot easier.
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