Return of Neymar, the PSG-OM rivalry, the rumors around Kylian Mbappé … Mauricio Pochettino takes stock at a press conference before the Champions Trophy against OM, Wednesday, in Lens.
Neymar : “He is available, he is part of the group. We will decide tomorrow (Wednesday) if he plays from the start or not. His clash with Alvaro Gonzalez during the last PSG-OM? It’s a match that we saw on TV, we (the current staff, editor’s note) were not there. Either way, it’s a thing of the past, it will be another match tomorrow. ” (NB: Neymar had accused Alvaro of having used racist terms)
Kylian Mbappé : “He is in perfect condition. We will decide tomorrow which is the best team to start this match and win it. The rumors that send him to Real? When you are in Paris… All the rumors are incredible! It was already happening at Espanyol, Southampton and Tottenham and it’s no different here. People are talking, there are rumors. We have internal discussions with the club, with Leonardo, and when the time comes, the club will communicate if there is anything to say. But I can’t lose attention with this. ”
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Keylor Navas : “We have already known Keylor since our visit to Spain. He’s a great goalie, one of the best in the world. He’s a great professional. It’s an honor to have him, we are happy to work with him. ”
The opportunity to win a first title in Paris and in his coaching career : “It’s a special match with special motivation. The opponent is OM, and we know what that means. For us, it is a pride to represent Paris in these matches. And beyond the title, we know that pride is important. We will do everything to win this match. (…) The most important thing is to win tomorrow. Whether for the supporters or the players, the priority is the same: winning the match. We obviously know that in case of victory, there would be a trophy. But for me, victory is first and foremost a matter of pride. ”
“Football is emotion”
Classic Memories : “I remember those matches very well. It is a duel of special importance for all the people of the club, our supporters but also the players. Football is emotion. With the virus, we realize how much the supporters miss when they are not at the stadium. I remember perfectly the emotions that I experienced as a player in these matches. ”
The management of the stars as the infirmary empties : “It’s our 10th day at the club, the 11th tomorrow. Players know there are constraints, including the fact that only 11 can play at the same time. There will be choices to be made according to various parameters, knowing that we will always try to find the best team, the best complementarity between the players to win matches. We must also take into account the state of form to put on the ground those who are in the best conditions. ”
Managing emotions in a Classic : “In the short time that we are at the club, we have already played two matches (1-1 in Saint-Etienne and 3-0 against Brest, note) and tomorrow will be the third, a special match. We will focus on sectors that we feel are a priority for improvement. One of the things we talked about was emotional control. And not just for tomorrow’s game. This is important for all other matches. Controlling emotions is important for success. ”
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The Covid-19 : “It’s a new situation to manage. As with all other clubs, it is important to know how to adapt to find the best strategies and ultimately the best solutions. When you are in a period of preparation, it is easier to manage. There, we must go faster. We are very happy with the availability of the staff but also and above all the players who make incredible efforts to assimilate things. They are open. ” (NB: Rafinha, Kehrer and Dagba are positive and unavailable for this match against OM)
Everton reportedly willing to let Moise Kean go : “These will be private discussions. Whether there are discussions or not, the club will communicate when the time comes. But again, these will be internal discussions. Today our focus is on tomorrow’s game. The most important thing is to win this Classic. It’s so important to our supporters and everyone at the club. ”
Ligue 1, the most unbalanced championship in Europe according to André Villas-Boas : “I have respect for all my colleagues and a very good relationship with André. We both coached Tottenham. He has some knowledge of the French championship because he has been doing more than he is here. I don’t want to argue. We are only focused on tomorrow’s match, which we hope to win. ”
Remarks gathered during a press video conference
