Verratti, the draw and the PSG game: “There are many things to improve”, sums up Pochettino

He was forced to wait more. And he does not hide it. “Of course I am disappointed because we are PSG, we want to winr “, Mauricio Pochettino threw into the Téléfoot microphone. Of course. When you are the new Parisian coach and you start in L1, it makes sense to aim for victory. And nothing more. his PSG conceded a draw in Saint-Etienne (1-1) during a match where his protégés were also pushed by the Greens. “This is not the result we wanted but Saint-Etienne deserves the point obtained“he admits again.

In his defense, Mauricio Pochettino has not yet had time to set foot in this PSG. Hardly appointed to the head of the Parisian club, he only had three days and a few sessions to try to instill his philosophy. And to top it all, those absent were legion in the Parisian ranks and not the least (Neymar, Presnel Kimpembe, Rafinha, Paredes, Danilo Pereira …). But this meeting allowed him to measure part of the site that awaits him. “After three days, without too much time to prepare for the game, there is a lot to improve.“, he admits.

While Kylian Mbappé and Angel Di Maria lacked sharpness and impact up front, the offensive animation was particularly disappointing. “We have to work to improve both phases with the ball and without the ball. We need to make better use of the spaces in the opposite field. Against a team that was well grouped like today, we need to move the ball better and find spaces“, admitted the former Tottenham boss at a press conference. But if the Parisian defense was not imperial either, not everything is to pull this match.

By sequences, the Parisians have sought to put intensity to recover the ball. The premises of the PSG Pochettino version? “From day one, we have tried to implement different game concepts, recognized in Téléfoot. I am happy with the effort of the players, with their attitude. This is just the beginning. They have to adapt to us (the staff) and to us, to adapt to them. We have to meet”Said the Argentine, who changed his 4-3-3 for a 4-4-2 in the last 30 minutes.

His choice remains to place Marco Verratti higher on the pitch at the heart of the game Omnipresent without Neymar, the little Italian has not been unworthy, far from it. He touched many balls and was the author of the assist. “Marco had the freedom to play in different positions today. He is a playmaker. You can play in different positions. I am very happy with his performance“Pochettino valued, although he hinted that it was a one-night stand.”It was the circumstances with the injuries that pushed to play like this to have a balanced team on the field.“, he explained in Téléfoot, well aware that his PSG will not have the same face in a few weeks. For the return of the absentee and in particular of Neymar. But also because he will have had time to pose a little more. his claw on this team” .There are many aspects that we have to work on if we want to do great things in Paris.“, He concluded.