For Mauricio Pochettino, there is no doubt: his PSG is moving in the right direction.
This Tuesday at a press conference, from Leipzig (Germany) on the eve of the fourth day of the Champions League, the Argentinian assured that his game plan was clear and that his players were adapting more and more.
In addition, he does not rule out the possibility of starting with a line of three defenders Wednesday night.
For the past few weeks, Kylian Mbappé has been performing very well on the pitch.
But do you also feel a new attitude outside?
MAURICIO POCHETTINO.
I have always seen him very well, like all my players.
I see him with very good motivation, the desire to do well.
The performance can be better from one match to another but Kylian Mbappé responds.
Who do you consider to be your trusted men after ten months at PSG?
In general, we have confidence in all the players.
Everyone must have a role in this team for the collective to obtain the best performance.
Some play more than others, that's for sure.
But the first player on whom we rely is logically the captain and then with the senior players, of experience.
Young people matter too.
The demands of the coach in the management of a group are more accentuated than in the past.
After the first leg, you recognized some difficulties in the game. Tomorrow, do you have the ambition to win by playing well?
Every match has its difficulties.
As a coach, I always want us to improve.
I recently explained the period you need to adapt to new players.
Wijnaldum explained it right too.
I'm happy with the results but tomorrow will be another tough game.
Leipzig are a good team which will not make things easy for us.
How do you analyze your team's play?
I can see her well, with confidence.
We are on the right path, trying to improve, to adapt.
We are looking for the victory, the result and the good functioning of the team.
How is Lionel Messi feeling?
Will he be able to be with you in Bordeaux?
We hope that the evolution will be good and that he will join us soon with the group.
I can't say more than that.
Leonardo spoke after the game saying: "We are looking".
Is it better to work on something specific or to experiment with several systems?
The question is very difficult (smile).
The project, we have it.
The ideas, we have them.
The way to develop them, we put it in place.
We are in the process of developing a team.
There are several stages that I don't want to go into.
We are in a particular stage that we are trying to develop.
The philosophy is clear, the identity is clear.
There are other factors that come into play.
The results are good and the process of adaptation of the new ones is improving.
Do you want to start at three behind in the near future?
These are game patterns that are just a frozen drawing at the start of the game.
It is not an animation.
Our team comes to life in three, four, move in the middle of the field.
It also depends on the height of the players on the pitch, on our way of holding the ball.
You can play multiple systems.
As a fixed system, we can start with three exchanges.
But we are looking for flexibility, not a fixed image.
It takes understanding.
We hope it will arrive soon.
Angel Di Maria is back in the Champions League.
What do you expect from him in the group?
You tell me about a name that shines by itself in football.
He's been there for six years, he's very important.
We can always count on players like him.
I repeat: teams need balance, this ability of all players to invest in all phases of the game. The collective remains the most important.
If this works perfectly, the individualities will appear in a natural way.
We continue to work on this balance.