If there is anyone happy today with the PSG game, that is Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine coach spoke on RMC Sport about the performance of the Parisian team at the Allianz Arena and about the second leg at the Parc des Princes, congratulating his players for the tremendous effort made today in one of the most complicated stadiums in Europe.
“Happy with the result, happy with the team spirit, which overcame many difficulties. Against Bayern, who have been the best team in Europe for two years. I have to congratulate the players for the tremendous spirit and sacrifice today.. And to repeat game after game this type of performance ”, assured Pochettino after being asked about the game.
On the plan to close the pass line to Kimmich, he added: “Yes, when you win it is always much easier to explain that the coach's decisions were correct. And here the credit always goes to the players, who are the main actors. They played an extraordinary game, with a great sacrifice. The merit is to congratulate the players. We have another game 90 minutes away and we have a lot of respect for Bayern. It will be extremely difficult to get through this tie and go to the semi-finals ”.
Marquinhos's injury: “He felt a little discomfort in the abductors, a tension. Hopefully it is nothing serious and that he will be with the team soon. He is an important player for us and we hope it is nothing serious ”.
The return against Bayern: “It is a difficult result for Barcelona in the first leg. We have a small advantage, it is small. Hopefully it will be different and that in the result we will have the match we want. Although in the field everything depends on many factors and circumstances ”.
Flick: “We had an impressive game despite the loss”
Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick regretted the defeat conceded this Wednesday against Paris Saint-Germain (2-3) in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, but he was proud of his players and the “impressive” performance despite losing at home.
“Our opponent scored three goals on very few occasions, but the way my players performed was impressive despite the loss. I am convinced that we could have finished with a different result because of all the good opportunities we had, “Flick told the media.
Asked by Niklas Süle and Leon Goretzka, who both retired in the first half, he said they have “muscle injuries.” “We will see the duration of their leave after the medical examinations, but they will surely be absent this weekend”, advanced.
“It is a regrettable defeat. PSG were very efficient, but we dominated the game. I have to congratulate my team for the mentality, the style of play, but we weren't focused enough for the goal. I told the team that there is still one game to play and we will give everything so that this result is in our favor. It does not change our mentality “, added.
On other issues, Flick assured that “when a player like Lewandowski can't play, that's not good,” and they noticed it on Wednesday. “But we had chances and we could have scored four or five goals. It wasn't our day.”, defined.
Finally, Flick did not criticize his goalkeeper Manuel Neuer despite the 0-1 goal, the work of Kylian Mbappé. “In the first goal, Mbappé shoots perfectly, the ground was wet. Things like this can happen. I don't have to cheer him on, like when he doesn't always get praise when he does world-class matches. It can happen that a goalkeeper does not stop all the balls at such a short distance, “he concluded.