Pochettino positive for Covid: training your team remotely, instructions

Barely arrived, already isolated.

Mauricio Pochettino, tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday, will not be back at the Loges camp until Saturday in the best case after complete isolation for seven days.

The Argentine coach of PSG therefore missed the trip to Angers (1-0 success) and will not be able to sit on the bench at the Parc des Princes this Friday evening for the reception of Montpellier.

Frustrating for the former defender and red and blue captain.

Claude Puel has been in the same situation in Saint-Etienne in recent days.

In Ligue 1, Thierry Laurey (Strasbourg) or Franck Haise (Lens) went through this ordeal in the fall.

Just like Fabien Mercadal, coach of Dunkirk at the second national level.

“I had the first symptoms the day before a game in Chambly (

Editor's note: October 31

), he recalls.

In total, I went through 8 or 9 days of isolation.

It happened rather at the right time because we had already prepared for the meeting.

"

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PSG: how Pochettino manages his team from a distance

During the match, his role as a distance coach went rather well, despite battling fatigue and symptoms of the coronavirus.

“It's true that we have a role on the bench on match days, but it's easy to connect today,” explains Fabien Mercadal.

There is someone in the forum who sends two or three coaching messages.

After the victory, we even got to make the war cry together.

"

"It's not the same with or without Mauricio"

The most problematic arose the following week for the preparation of the reception of Paris FC, which is more the former team of the Dunkirk coach.

"A staff is like the team on the ground, you need an organization in place," said Fabien Mercadal.

I have been fortunate to have known the staff well for six or seven years.

One of my assistants came to see me downstairs from my home, we were talking at the window.

I also received training films and analyzed on my own before delivering the messages.

We made it out.

"

At PSG, “the small difference is that he has just arrived, Mercadal recalls about Pochettino.

He still has to be in a period where he wants to put playing principles in place, so the only lack is in the direct speech with the players.

But they are all experienced boys, it's not insurmountable.

"

“The content of the sessions is already established but it is true that it is not the same with or without Mauricio, confided Jesus Perez, deputy of the Argentinian, after the success in Angers on Saturday.

We've been working together for ten years, we know what he's waiting for.

We will take advantage of this double week with only one match on the program to work on the sectors where we intend to progress.

"