His words intended to praise Kylian Mbappé had already appeared in the JDD.
This Sunday evening, in an interview broadcast on Europe 1, before the Coupe de France meeting, Leonardo, the sporting director of PSG, spoke of other topical issues.
Alongside Jimmy Algerino, the former Parisian right-back, consultant for the station, Leonardo first spoke about the events during Paris FC - Lyon, Friday evening. “It's not a football issue, it's a social issue,” he said. Football must organize itself to avoid that as much as possible. This is the 6th or 7th time this season. We must all mobilize but first we must all calm down. We, PSG, are available for discussion or to create something. Our supporters are behaving well, it's nice. "
Very quickly he approached the meeting against Real Madrid, in the round of 16. While the first draw had designated Manchester United. “It's true that the draw was a bit weird,” he said. But hey in the end I have no preference. Our goal is to win and we have to play against everyone. "
Asked about the state of Sergio Ramos who played only one match this season, in Saint-Etienne, on November 28, before his tenure this Sunday in the Cup, he slips: “we had surprises.
He had a breakdown.
He forced a little.
He took two steps back.
After 4-5 months he comes to a point where he is really on the right track.
He has a presence, a personality that will be important for the second part of the season which is the decisive part.
"He also assures us that the team will be" very competitive "at that time.
"We did not take Messi to put on a show in every match"
Leonardo then came to Messi's defense. “Messi, it's indisputable, he said. If you start to discuss Messi it is because you did not understand anything. Geniuses are not players like me, like Jimmy… Geniuses like Neymar and Mbappé, it's a matter of state of mind. With Mbappé he is involved in 80% of our goals. We did not take Messi to put on a show in every match but to be more competitive. When you go to the Park and you see that… This summer transfer window was fabulous. It's not me, it's the club. But you have two 22 year old players Hakimi and Donnarumma who are the best in the world. And we have Navas too. One at 22 and the other 35. Now is the time. Both were named in the top ten goalies. After you have Nuno Mendes, Messi, Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos… We have 45 points.If we arrive at 48 points it will be the third best start in the history of Ligue 1. We are 2nd in the Champions League. We are in the nails. If we want to do better it is to win all the matches. This is what we want to do. "
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW📌⚽️ # Leonardo is the exceptional guest of @lionelrosso in @ Europe1Sport1 from 8 p.m. Sunday December 19, 2021.
👉To listen: https://t.co/b4woqfxak5
👉Read the post: https://t.co/ d8M3Kv9Bfz pic.twitter.com/RtSLsi1AhR
- Europe 1 Press Service (@ europe1presse) December 18, 2021
Has Messi's adaptability been underestimated? Should we be surprised to see him walking so much on lawns? “Who says he has to run 12 km per game ?, asks Leonardo. Barcelona have always played with possession of the ball. No one was doing 12 km. He not only played 20 years on the same team but 20 years in the same way. Messi's situation has never been underestimated. Honestly, we did Messi in three days. Even he thought of staying in Barcelona. And in three days he arrives in Paris. So he is even very good compared to what happened in his life which was completely unexpected. And then everyone walks on a field. Even Idrissa Gueye, who is 15 km per game, walks at times. "
Obviously, it is on the balance sheet of Pochettino that the sporting director was expected. "His record? One year on January 3. In a year: it happens in January when we had problems otherwise we would not have changed coaches. He himself had the Covid-19. It was very hard. He spent two months to recover. During the Champions Trophy he was knocked out. We organize ourselves. Barcelona and Bayern are eliminated. We lose against City but we were in the idea of the season. Then comes the summer and we do the transfer window that we did. He is starting the season again with a not large but very large squad! With everyone to put it the right way. It is something difficult. It's okay to need a little time to give players that feeling of being comfortable.And there we arrive in January and there comes a second part where we can have an incredible season and something unforgettable. "
"Playing a Ligue 1 match is not easy"
Critics on the lack of style of PSG?
“We have changed a lot, assures the sports director.
We made a lot of different players available to Pochettino.
The work is not easy.
Having 15 players is easier than 25. There I see the progression.
After that, it is clear to everyone that we do not yet reach a certain level.
We knew he would need a little time to reach the maximum.
And that is the second part of the season.
When we get to the final stages, the players have something that comes out at that point.
And we also forget the quality of Ligue 1. Today, playing a Ligue 1 match is not easy.
"
Zidane's name has also been put forward as a candidate one day to coach the club.
“We never contacted not only Zidane but any other coach,” says Leonardo.
We never contacted Zidane.
What we want is for Pochettino to succeed at Paris Saint-Germain ”.
