Mauricio Pochettino’s 6 biggest challenges at PSG

When the manager of a club the size of Paris Saint-Germain is given the kickoff, the rumor usually goes into overdrive, with countless names thrown into the mix as a potential successor to the missing boss. .

However, when Thomas Tuchel saw the Parc des Princes exit gate, there was no fury – immediately Mauricio Pochettino became the favorite, and that was it.

The former Tottenham boss has now been officially appointed as Tuchel’s replacement, signing an 18-month contract with the club he represented as a player for two years before leaving for Bordeaux in 2003.

While taking the reins of a club that qualified for the Champions League final less than five months ago may seem like a fairly easy job, the Argentinian tactician has the job entirely in his hands, with a number of issues surrounding contracts and player futures. in the air.

Let’s take a look at the biggest challenges Pochettino faces as he takes the hot seat from PSG.

Without a doubt the biggest challenge Pochettino faces upon arriving in Paris.

PSG have big ambitions to become the elite club in European football, but if they are to achieve these ambitions they must keep their hands on the superstars of their team.

Real Madrid have made no secret of their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe, with 90 mins exclusively revealing recently that Los Blancos are confident they will secure a deal for the Frenchman.

Meanwhile, Neymar will of course be crucial for any PSG success going forward, and if Pochettino can convince the duo to sign new contracts at Parc des Princes, he will be well on his way to becoming a success as a club.

PSG have a lot of good players on their squad who just don’t have the playing time to justify their excessive salaries.

Players like Julian Draxler and Juan Bernat are well paid but have had their playing time limited due to injury issues and competition in their respective positions.

If PSG is to become a force in Europe and nationally, it could do so with a few stellar additions, and cutting the payroll will help them achieve their goals. Talking about that …

Well, signing this man would be Probably count as one of the aforementioned “stellar additions”.

Neymar has spoken of his desire to team up with Lionel Messi again, with the Brazilian suggesting his future at PSG may depend on the club signing the Barcelona man.

At 33, Messi is no spring chicken, but his quality, combined with the fact that his arrival could secure Neymar’s services beyond the expiration date of his current contract, would mean he would, of course, a brilliant signature.

The Ligue 1 title has become a custom at PSG these days, having been crowned champion in seven of the last eight seasons.

However, Tuchel’s departure came following a disappointing start to the current Championship campaign, with the Parisians trailing behind leaders Lyon and second-placed Lille.

The gap between PSG and the top of the table is only a point, but with the season almost halfway, PSG must find some consistency if they want to keep their title.

While PSG will of course be desperate to retain their Ligue 1 crown, European glory is where their heart truly lies.

Neymar and his teammates were one game away after being crowned Champions League winners last season, but failed when they faced Europe’s best team – it’s funny.

While the record books will show PSG as runners-up, in truth they were far behind Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich juggernaut, and Pochettino has his work cut out for him if he is to bring the club the European glory they are for. so desperate.

The PSG squad contains plenty of players who are either in their prime or in the twilight of their careers, with very few promising players plying their trade at Parc des Princes, with many jumping ships in recent years for understandable play. time concerns.

While all of this is all well and good for now, in a few years there will be a lot of players who are way past their best, and they need to start looking ahead.

If Pochettino can add youngsters to the roster, it’ll set them up nicely for years to come (of course, it makes Messi’s signing look silly, but he doesn’t count when it comes to logical debates, he exception to the rule).