PSG move to appoint Mauricio Pochettino after dispensing with Thomas Tuchel's services

[ASFN Admin]

Paris Saint-Germain are in talks to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach and are hopeful of quickly concluding a deal. The 48-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur manager is top of PSG’s list following the dramatic Christmas Eve sacking of Thomas Tuchel. Pochettino has been out of work since being dismissed by Tottenham in November 2019. There is a certain irony in that, as with Tuchel at PSG, the Argentinian led his club to the Champions League final before losing his job within months. Pochettino has long been admired by PSG and the French club also like the fact that he played for them between 2001-03 – long before the Qataris acquired them and made them a force in world football. PSG have tracked his career from Espanyol to Southampton and on to Spurs. PSG like Pochettino’s style of play and management and have considered him as a future head coach for some time. The one drawback is the fact that he has not won silverware but his management at Spurs and development of players such as Harry Kane has impressed. Taking over at PSG would appear to represent a good opportunity for Pochettino to finally win trophies, given they have won the league seven out of the last eight seasons, and returned to the Champions League. PSG are involved in the pick of the ties in the last-16 against Barcelona. The other manager who has strongly been considered by PSG is the former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri who is admired by sporting director Leonardo. But Pochettino is expected to be formally offered the job within hours unless there are any delays in negotiations. Tuchel has has a difficult relationship with Leonardo and, in the final year of his contract at PSG, was set to leave at the end of the season come what may. PSG are currently third in Ligue 1 – with four defeats in 17 games - but won a tough Champions League group ahead of Manchester United and RB Leipzig.

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