Pochettino: "It's not just the victory that counts, it's also the way"

It was the least well kept secret in Paris.

While he was already hard at work at Camp des Loges, Paris Saint-Germain formalized this Saturday the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as coach.

Contract until 2022, with an optional year, for the 48-year-old Argentinian technician.

Which says he is "very happy" to join the capital of the comments reported by the media of the club.

“It's a magnificent opportunity, an extraordinary project.

It's so exciting to be here and to rebuild this relationship again, ”he swears.

Rebuild?

Yes, because Pochettino wore the colors - and the armband - of PSG as a player between January 2001 and the end of the 2002-03 season.

“I have always followed PSG since I played there.

I've always had a good relationship with the supporters, ”said the former Argentina international (22 caps, 2 goals).

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No time to savor too long for Pochettino and his staff, with the resumption of training this Sunday and a first match Wednesday, in Saint-Etienne.

Very quickly, it will also be a question of the Champions League… There are many projects.

The objectives too.

“Paris is one of the biggest clubs in the world,” notes the former coach of Espanyol, Southampton and Tottenham.

In a club as important as PSG, it's not just victory that counts.

There is obviously the victory, but also the manner. "

And to add: “The players are the first actors.

And the players want to be protagonists, they like to play football, to win, and they like the game. It's very important.

(…) The main objective is to achieve what the club wants, what the players want, because the players want to win, to lift trophies.

We are here to try to help the club, the players, achieve what they are aiming for.

And at the same time, we help ourselves to achieve our goals (smile). ”

Discipline, respect and camaraderie

We know Mauricio Pochettino's recipes well, made of emotion, pressing and effort.

But also simplicity, as he explains: “Discipline is most important, respect and camaraderie.

Not just between the players, the staff, but the people who work at the training center, at the stadium, when we travel ... I think it's important that everyone feels that they are part of the project and the club."

For the rest, we will see how the Argentine positions himself in relation to his group.

We remember that Thomas Tuchel often played the card of "calinotherapy".

I will be as close as the players need it, ”smiles the native of the small town of Murphy, discovered by Marcelo Bielsa.

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The Parc des Princes?

The former PSG captain has not forgotten it.

"It is magic.

The energy ... I remember fantastic evenings or afternoons playing football at the Parc des Princes with our fans, he relishes.

I can't wait for the supporters to come back to the Parc des Princes and allow the players to fly on the pitch (smile)!

It will be fantastic."

It is obviously not for now, the coronavirus pandemic requires.

On January 10, for the first of Pochettino in his new functions, the enclosure of the Porte de Saint-Cloud will ring hollow, still subject to camera.

In the meantime, it will be on the side of Geoffroy-Guichard that he will find Ligue 1 and France football.

Al-Khelaïfi: "I am proud to see our former captain return to Paris Saint-Germain"

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (President of Paris Saint-Germain)

 : “We are very happy to entrust the management of our professional team to Mauricio Pochettino.

I am proud to see our former captain come back to Paris Saint-Germain, because the Club has always remained his home.

The return of Mauricio Pochettino fits perfectly with our ambitions and will mark another chapter for the club which I am sure will be sure to delight our supporters.

With this appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, Paris Saint-Germain is committed to continuing its strong development in the years to come. ”

(PSG website)

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