PSG will face Leipzig this Tuesday evening, at the Parc des Princes.
A third Champions League match this season which will be played without Neymar, touched in the groin and announced forfeit a few minutes before the start of the press conference of the coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
The Brazilian had yet participated in part of the training on Monday at the Lodges camp.
What is your reaction to Neymar's package?
MAURICIO POCHETTINO.
The priority is always the health of the players, Ney has a small problem
(in the adductors)
, we hope it will only be a matter of days for him to find us.
Why did he train this Monday morning?
He had the green light from the medical staff, we are not deciding that. He did the training, he felt an embarrassment that prevented him from participating in the last part on the tactical aspect. Then there was an evaluation, and we concluded that it was not possible. I explain to you. The decision of which players are available for training always comes from a discussion with the technical staff. If they tell me that a player can train, he is training. Otherwise, he does not train. We are 100% behind the decisions of the medical staff. We don't have the capacity to judge medical decisions. He was available. He trained. He felt discomfort in his leg. He was unable to complete the tactical portion of the training. It is not my decision. Every day, there is a meeting between the performance, medical and technical staff.If a player leaves the field, it is always with the agreement of the medical staff. I say this so that everyone is aware of how it works. We do not play with the health of the players.
Mauricio Pochettino on tomorrow's opponent, the @RBLeipzig 🎙 pic.twitter.com/NYxR43T5Ej
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) October 18, 2021
When we know the status of players like Messi, Mbappé and Neymar, is it almost impossible to replace them during the match?
We're talking about the best players in the world.
Why replace them?
It doesn't make sense to think like that.
What is Mauro Icardi's news?
He had personal problems, he did not train today.
It will be in the list.
We'll see when he arrives this Monday evening.
Do you have a set-piece hierarchy?
We are old enough to understand that we are talking about the best players in the world, that they are players who can communicate and make the right decisions at the right time.
We don't need to make decisions from the outside for them.
It may be quite difficult to understand, but for us it is very simple.
How big of a stake will possession be on Tuesday night?
In the same way as Leipzig, we need the three points.
Leipzig is a very good team, with quality players.
We know it's a tough game.
The use of the ball will be essential, it will be necessary to know how to compensate for the loss in order not to put yourself in danger.
We will also need a good defensive organization to counter the offensives of Leipzig, but possession will obviously be essential.
"Leo can shine on his own"
Mauricio Pocchettino
Can the support of the Parisian public push Kylian Mbappé to extend to PSG?
I do not have the answer, it is he who can answer this question.
What do you think of Leo Messi's performance?
Leo can shine on his own.
He has been with us for a few weeks, a few months.
We are very happy with his integration, he is starting to feel better and better and we expect, of course, that he performs at his best.
Who will start in goal, Navas or Donnarumma?
I have already decided, but I have not communicated yet.
Can Verratti play higher on the pitch on Tuesday than against Manchester City?
Since our arrival, we have often heard questions about Marco's positioning.
But, with our common experience and our exchanges, we know that he can evolve without any problem in the position in which he evolved against Manchester City
(further back, in front of the defense)
.
What we especially want is for him to be in the field, because you who know him very well, you know that he brings a lot of things.
Feedback on the session the day before #PSGRBL 💪🏆 pic.twitter.com/8LugP1l3Gs
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) October 18, 2021
Do you have the feeling that you have established a real style of play since your arrival?
There is an idea, a methodology, a very clear way of working.
It may seem invisible, but we can see it and we are very happy with the evolution of the team.
Context means that some things may take longer to show up than others.
We can talk about other teams ahead of their plans, like Manchester City, or think of
(Alex)
Ferguson who stayed for twenty-six years at Manchester United and who won nothing for the first six years.
But, I repeat, overall we are satisfied and we hope that over time we can put even more things in place.
And one day, we'll write a book to explain everything in depth
(laughs)
.