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| Mauricio POCHETTINO head coach of Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Kylian MBAPPE of Paris Saint Germain (PSG) during the French Ligue 1 Uber Eats soccer match between Paris and Saint-Etienne at Parc des Princes on February 26, 2022 in Paris, France. |
Mauricio Pochettino believes he will “100 per cent” still be Paris Saint-Germain head coach next season.
Pochettino won the Ligue 1 title on Saturday with PSG but his future in Paris is far from secure after a disappointing round of 16 exit in the Champions League.
The 50-year-old added that, at present, he also believes PSG talisman Kylian Mbappe will also remain at the club.
Mbappe’s contract expires in June and he was the subject of multiple transfer offers from Real Madrid last summer.
Pochettino, meanwhile, had been in the running to take charge at Manchester United, who instead opted to appoint Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag.
Pochettino has a contract at PSG until the end of next season, having taken over from Thomas Tuchel in January 2021, while Mbappe said earlier this month he had not yet made a decision on his future.
Ahead of PSG’s trip to Strasbourg on Friday, Pochettino was asked about the chances of him and Mbappe staying at the club next season.
100 per cent in both cases,the former Tottenham Hotspur manager replied.
That is how I feel today. That is what I can say to you today. I can’t say anything else. That is how I feel right now.
This is football and we never know what might happen. But I have to answer the question based on how I feel today. And that is what I have done.
There haven't been any concrete talks, beyond what is normal in terms of our plans and what we have been doing so far.
This season's title victory is the first of Pochettino’s career, with the 50-year-old’s only two other managerial honours also coming with PSG. He won the Trophee des Champions in 2020 shortly after being appointed and lifted the Coupe de France last season.
Outside of Ligue 1, however, PSG have had a disappointing season.
They exited the Champions League at the round of 16 after a second-leg collapse against Real Madrid, were knocked out of the Coupe de France at the same stage on penalties by Nice, and lost the Trophee des Champions to Lille.
