The coach of PSG, Mauricio Pochettino, spoke to the media after the in extremis victory against Rennes that ended with a goal from Mbappé in stoppage time. The Argentine coach stressed that it is positive to keep a clean sheet and that he hopes that Neymar enters the squad on Tuesday to face Real Madrid.
Keep a clean sheet: “It’s always good, as the defensive line is in high demand at times. The teams that win the big trophies always show significant defensive strength and I think that’s part of how important the team is showing. That resilience and that ability to holding on to win the games in the end is important to take the three points”.
On whether he has chosen the starting goalkeeper against Madrid: “My choice for Tuesday? Courtois (laughs) No, I don’t know yet. In my mind, the plan is ready and I hope to pass it on to my players so they can apply it against Real Madrid.”
The ultras of PSG: “During the break, very short, we always use it so that you know, we analyze 2-3-4 minutes that we do with the coaching staff and then we correct situations by showing images. We don’t have much time. We do it with tactical corrections. But We don’t talk about what happened in the stands.”
The offensive animation of the match: “I think it was a different game from Lille. Rennes played with a very, very low block, where the defensive tactical discipline was with a 1-4-5-1 system, where Laborde as a forward was really 30 meters from his goal. Over time, if you don’t manage to score, that possibility and that discipline increases. That motivation was difficult. Because we didn’t score at the beginning and that makes the game go that way. We try to correct in the second half and that’s important. We had the chance in 93 to win it”.
Union: “I want to send a message of unity. The fans are the most important thing in the clubs. The fans always have the democratic right to express themselves and we need unity. We are going to enter an important period of the season and we need to be all together, fight for our objectives and, when the game and the season are over, sit down and try to correct things. We all have self-criticism to improve so that our club continues to be or is the best club in the world”.
A shot on goal only in 90 minutes: “It doesn’t bother me.”
If you think you arrive at the Madrid game with the best disposition: “I think we have done a great job, a great commitment from all the players. I have no doubt that on Tuesday we will compete in the best way and arrive in the best conditions”.
Neymar: “You have to be careful with expectations, then it is not reality. Everyone creates their own expectations. Expectation is something that is not supported by science and reality is something else. It may be there. Evolution is very good and He may be in the squad. Hopefully, because he’s an important player for us”.