Even without Kylian Mbappé, suspended, Mauricio Pochettino does not want to find any excuse for his players in anticipation of the clash in Nice on Saturday evening.
The Argentine coach asks them to stay focused on this meeting before, then, thinking about the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League in Madrid.
Is it good to face Nice a few days from Real Madrid?
MAURICIO POCHETTINO.
We have to accept the schedule.
It is not our choice.
Nice will put us in difficulty, that's for sure.
They are third in the standings.
It can help us, yes.
Facing a team of this level can help us before such a Champions League match, especially for concentration.
Are you happy with the team's progress over the past month?
I am satisfied.
It's true that progress is best seen by winning Champions League matches like against Real Madrid.
From outside the locker room, perhaps we see less of the small improvements.
The atmosphere is good here at the training center.
But we still have a lot to improve.
What does the absence of Kylian Mbappé change for PSG on a tactical and psychological level?
The psychological effect for teammates and the opponent is significant with such an impact player.
We know that during a season, we can lose players through suspension or injury.
It should help us stay motivated, help the team believe in themselves.
It is this thing that we must continue to cultivate to stay strong as a team.
Is there a match between Di Maria and Neymar in view of the balance for your team against Real Madrid?
Each match is a world apart.
Real Madrid won't have the same players in the second leg, maybe for us either.
We will first face Nice tomorrow evening and then we will start thinking about the eleven against Real.
We must focus on Nice in relation to its strength and what the French championship requires.
Otherwise, it would be an error on our part.
We will then see the animation to put in place to qualify.
Tomorrow, we must have a performance that allows us to obtain a victory, 100%, in the best conditions.
The Real Madrid match cannot be an excuse if we are not 100% on Saturday evening.
Isn't it difficult to approach this Ligue 1 match with such a lead in the standings?
In football, there is no ON/OFF button.
If you disconnect, it's harder to reconnect.
We must have the same level of concentration, of involvement in Ligue 1 against Nice as against Real.
If you are ready physically but not mentally, a lot of things can happen, be late, like a card, an injury... There is a motivation to win these matches.
We must keep the motivation to maintain this lead in the championship.
The best way to prepare Real is to play a quality match tomorrow.
You have more difficulties outside.
How do you explain that ?
It happens often, as in all teams.
We try to play the same way away as at home.
There is no one factor that can explain this.
There may be more efficiency from the adversary or from us.
I don't believe there is anything special to explain this.
If we have better results at home, we must also emphasize the role of the supporters.
Our fans generate an atmosphere that influences other teams, an energy that benefits our players.
Have you decided who will play in the goal against Nice.
Will tomorrow's starter be a starter against Real?
I decided for tomorrow.
Not for Tuesday (smile).
And, therefore, who will play tomorrow?
(Laughs) Keylor (Navas) or Gigio (Donnarumma).
Sergio Ramos will not be there but what can he bring to the group?
He still has not returned to collective training.
He can pass on experience and good advice to his teammates for this match.
He stayed 17 years in this club.
His contribution but that of other injured or suspended players is always well received.
In this type of match, all the details are important.