Pochettino's record will worry PSG
It cannot be said that Pachettino has achieved the expected success as the coach of Neymar-Mbappe. PSG lost the domestic league title to Lille. The team that reached the final of the 2019 Champions League could not cross the barrier of the next semis.
This season, Messi-Donnarumma-Wijnaldum-Hakimi has joined PSG along with Neymar-Mbappe-Di Maria. If PSG, which has been dominating the domestic competition for a decade, can't do anything in the Champions League again, there will be tension over Pachettino's job, for sure. Especially where Zinedine Zidane is the PSG's interest in making them their next coach. Real Madrid, the most successful team in the competition, has emerged as an obstacle in front of PSG in fulfilling the dream of the Champions League.
PSG will face Real Madrid in the first leg of the second round tonight at 2 o'clock. The club in Paris will undoubtedly come down with the strongest team against Real. But PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino's record against Real Madrid fans can not be optimistic about the victory. Pachettino's record against Real is not a very good one!
Before PSG, Pachettino was the coach of teams like Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Espanyol. Of these, he did not have to sit down with Real to coach Southampton.
With Espanyol and Tottenham Pochettino have played in 9 matches against Real, winning one of them,he has drawn in one match. Real has given him the bitter taste of defeat in the remaining seven matches.
However, in the midst of despair, a piece of information will show the light of hope to PSG. The two matches in which Pochettino avoided defeat were both in the Champions League. In the group stage of the 2016-17 season, he won one of the two matches against Real, coming to Real's field after a draw. However, as the coach of Espanyol, the Argentine has lost in each of the seven matches. Real has scored 21 goals in these seven matches, 1 has not been digested.
However, it is also true that in terms of strength, Espanyol, this PSG is far ahead of Tottenham. "We have a lot of respect for Real Madrid, they are one of the best teams in the world," said PSG. You can't win the European Cup 13 times just by coaching.This can only be achieved if the whole team is strong. Real have a habit of winning the Champions League, we would rather challenge them in the match. But we will not suffer here. I trust my team, I trust the players. We will do our best to win the match. '
Although Pochettino speaks of hope, PSG's recent domestic performance suggests something else. Despite being at the top of the league, PSG has been eliminated from round 16 of the French Cup. Will PSG be able to beat Real tonight by keeping away the bad record of the coach or their recent form?The answer will be known today.