The coach of the Paris Saint-Germain, the Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, assured that Bayern Munich is the favorite in the Champions League quarter-final tie, because they are the current defenders of the title.
“The favorite in theory is always the champion. It's the best team in the world right now, they just won six titles. We have to respect that. We are aspirants, “he said at the press conference prior to the duel in which they will defend tomorrow at the Park of the Princes the 2-3 achieved in the first leg.
“If we pass it will be something important for this club, reaching the semifinals. But our aspiration is always to win titles,” he added.
Pochettino recognized that in the great duels This season his team is playing better away from home than in their stadium and appealed to “the collective attitude, but also aptitude” to overcome an opponent who dominated them in the first leg, despite the result.
“We have to have a different attitude than the one we had in the second leg against Barcelona. Not only do we have to defend ourselves, we also have to try to have the ball and attack the rival, that is our great challenge, “he said.
The Argentine coach appealed to turn the page of the tie against Barça, which dominated them in the second leg (1-1) but lacked aim to overcome the result of the first leg (1-4).
“Barcelona is already past. Bayern is a different teamHe is the best in the world and will create difficulties for us, as he did in the first leg. We have to have the ability to manage those moments of difficulty, as happened in Munichh, “he noted.
Pochettino He pointed out that either of the two can overcome the tie and assured that they will go out to the field “to win” the game and not to maintain the result.
The technician assured that the Argentine attacker Mauro Icardi will not be on the list, while doubts about the Brazilian central defender remain Marquinhos and Italian midfielder Marco Verratti.
Regarding both, he pointed out that they will probably not be in the starting eleven, but that they can integrate the group and go out throughout the duel.
The second captain of the team, the French defender Presnel Kimpembe, for his part, said that they face the duel “with confidence” but “with respect for the best team of the moment.”
“Eliminating Bayern would be something great,” said the youth squad, who pointed out that if you don't play Marquinhos and wearing the captain's armband he will try to “infuse positive energy into the team.”