No time to savor, nor to gargle.
Three days after winning his first coaching title Wednesday against Marseille for the Champions Trophy (2-1), Mauricio Pochettino is back to normal.
Dauphin de Lyon, leader of Ligue 1 with a head start, the capital club will go hunting this Saturday for first place on the lawn of the SCO d'Angers on the occasion of the 20th day of Ligue 1. Without Bernat (knee), Letellier (elbow), nor Rafinha, Kehrer and Dagba, all positive for Covid-19.
But with Kylian Mbappé, whose state of form does not seem to worry more than that his new coach.
How do you feel Kylian Mbappé?
MAURICIO POCHETTINO.
I'm very happy with Kylian's performance, his involvement and what he's doing on the pitch.
He made great efforts for the team.
He's a very important player.
Of course, there are things to improve.
Great things are always expected of him.
But it will come, he will regain his rhythm over time.
Wouldn't he need to regenerate a bit on the sidelines?
There are different parameters that must be taken into account when discussing the physical management of a player.
We work in close collaboration and we communicate perfectly with the medical sector to make the best decisions.
But this is information that I prefer to keep secret, I don't like to talk about individual situations.
His optimal state of fitness will come with his playing time.
Marco Verratti has been playing in a higher position for three games.
Can his role change with the return of Neymar?
We have a squad with great players, full of talent.
This gives us different options in terms of combinations and animation that we want to put in place and the best position in which to use each player.
After three games, are you satisfied with Verratti?
How can he improve?
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I am very happy with Marco.
He has the capacity to play in different positions.
He is a playmaker who has great qualities.
I'm not going to teach you that.
When he has the ball, he has a capacity for conservation and guidance that puts the team in the direction of the game.
How did you react when, on Wednesday evening during the success against Marseille at the Champions Trophy, Neymar hugged you?
I am very happy with the victory and this first trophy.
It was a match that had to be won.
I want to thank the players for what they gave.
The gesture
(Editor's note: from Neymar)
shows recognition.
But above all, I want to thank the players for their involvement in the new ideas that I am offering them.
Have you already identified any players you would like to work with in the future?
Could Hugo Lloris be part of it?
We've barely arrived, we've only been here for thirteen days, we don't even have much time to sleep.
This sector is Leonardo who works on it.
We can discuss it together, but we have not yet looked into any issue.
We will talk about it when the time comes.
Against Marseille, you have seen progress in the game of PSG.
In which sector do you expect it against Angers?
We have seen some progress in the defensive and offensive organization.
We saw a more solid team, a more compact block.
We discussed it with the players, I told them that it should be the foundations of our project.
If we build on it, we will have the opportunity to improve and move forward.
Does Icardi's performance on Wednesday night make you want to continue with him rather than Kean?
They are not the same age, not the same qualities… It is a good thing for the competition to have two players of this level.
We are very happy to find Mauro after his absence.
We have to see who is the best at different times.
But it's important that both players can be available.
How should a coach who arrives during the season go about seducing his group?
The attraction of a new technical staff is important.
The first contact is essential, the players are waiting.
This opens doors for the dialogue to be more fluid.
The first impression is a key moment, the importance of which we obviously know.
(Laughing)
But I don't have to reveal my method otherwise it will be the subject of a second book by Guillem Balague in Barcelona
(Editor's note: who wrote a book about him in 2018)
.