“Messi has a small muscle discomfort”

With the criticism installed in the street and especially in the French media about the performance of PSG’s magic trident, Pochettino faces tomorrow’s clash against Lille without Mbappé. Maybe also without Messi: “He has a small muscle discomfort and has made an individual plan as a precaution,” said the Argentine coach, who added that he will decide in the next few hours whether or not to risk with his compatriot at the gates of another week of the Champions League.

Beyond the game and tactical issues, Pochettino he is forced to detail in each appearance in which state his best footballers are. The focus of the news is not elsewhere than in Messi, on Neymar and in Mbappé. And in this context it has an exceptional ally: Miki D’Agostino, assistant and also translator, able to memorize the speech of Pochettino without taking a single note. A genius. He even got a well-deserved applause at the end of the press conference.

It is not for less because it is not easy to replicate the words of a Pochettino that was questioned by Neymar: “He is a hugely talented footballer, one of the best in the world. As a coach, I have to provide him with the tools for him to enjoy more and more. We hope it continues to grow like the rest of the team, “he said. Pochettino, aware that PSG is not worth just being first. You also have to like it.

Mbappé He will not be against Lille because of an ENT infection, an important setback to receive the champion: “It is a challenge. We are talking about a strong team. We must not detract from the fact that last season he won Ligue 1 ”, he stressed. Pochettino, which did not rule out taking advantage of Messi play at the top after this week there have been several voices that have asked that the Argentine occupy a more central area on the court.

Messi he has the ability to interpret like nobody else what the party demands. And in that sense he can perform as a winger, as a striker and also as a medium: “Leo It is the best in the world. I recently heard that Guardiola He said that he can play as 7, 8, 9 and 10. He is a chosen footballer and understands all situations ”, he concluded. Pochettino, who wants to dispel the doubts generated not only with a win against Lille, but above all with a convincing version against the champion.