Mauricio Pochettino – Sports Africa

Pochettino celebrates first win with PSG, Lyon stays on top

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PARIS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) — Mauricio Pochettino secured his first victory as Paris Saint-Germain coach after his team eased past Brest 3-0 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, but Rudi Garcia’s Lyon maintained the lead at the top after a comeback 2-2 draw at Rennes.

PSG was held to a 1-1 stalemate at Saint-Etienne in Pochettino’s first game on Wednesday, but the capital side improved its morale back in Paris. Moise Kean’s 11th goal of the campaign in all competitions put PSG in front after 16 minutes, while substitutes Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia added two in the final 10 minutes.

“We have still only had a few days working together and we have had two very difficult, very competitive games,” Pochettino said after the match.

“I am really satisfied with the effort put in by the players. It was an improved performance and an important victory,” the former Tottenham manager added.

The win also helped PSG cut Lyon’s lead on the table to only one point, with the latter having to overcome a 2-0 deficit to clinch a precious point at Rennes.

Clement Grenier and Benjamin Bourigeaud scored in each half to gift Rennes a 2-0 lead, but Lyon managed a fight-back in the closing period as Memphis Depay pulled one back in the 79th minute before setting up Jason Denayer’s equalizer only three minutes later.

“Our first half of the season has been of a really high standard,” said Lyon coach Garcia. “We need to keep it going. Our objective is to at least pull away from fourth place and then we will see where we are come the run-in.”

Elsewhere, third-placed Lille kept pace with the title race after a 1-0 win at Nimes thanks to Burak Yilmaz’s winning goal. The northern France club is level on points with PSG but behind on goal difference.

Pochettino’s PSG debut ends in draw, Lyon extend lead

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PARIS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — Mauricio Pochettino’s first match in charge of Paris Saint-Germain didn’t go as he expected, as the capital side were held 1-1 at Saint-Etienne on Wednesday, gifting Lyon a chance to extend their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table to three points.

Lyon survived a late comeback from Lens to beat the newly-promoted team 3-2, taking their tally to 39 points. PSG are second ahead of Lille on goal difference, after the latter slipped up with a 2-1 home defeat to Angers.

Pochettino was confirmed PSG head coach only four days before their first match after the winter break.

The former Tottenham manager arrived the Parc des Princes with big ambitions but his start fell short of expectations.

Romain Hamouma opened the scoring for Saint-Etienne in the 19th minute after Idrissa Gueye lost the ball just outside the penalty area.

Moise Kean leveled just three minutes later when he swivelled and fired home from close range, but PSG could not find a winner.

“I’m disappointed. We are PSG and we wanted to win,” said Pochettino, who played for PSG as a central defender from 2001 to 2003.

“This is just the beginning, We have to get to know each other. It was difficult because the preparation was too short.”

The setback for the defending champions meant that Rudi Garcia’s Lyon, who led the standings at Christmas for the first time since 2008, strengthened their claim as the league’s pace-setters.

Memphis Depay hit a brace to take his season’s tally to 10, and Lucas Paqueta’s own goal put Lens 3-0 behind only seven minutes into the second half.

But Florian Sotoca’s goal in the 56th minute secured a glimmer of hope for Lens and Cheick Doucoure scored late on to give Lyon a scare.

“Everyone thought it was going to be an easy win for us, but I was worried this would be a difficult game,” Garcia said. “But our unbeaten run continues and I congratulate the players for that.”

Northern side Lille, who went into the day level on points with Lyon, dropped to third as Romain Thomas’s double in the opening ten minutes sewed up the victory for Angers.

Former Beijing Guo’an striker Burak Yilmaz pulled one back for the hosts before the break. Last year’s runner-up Marseille also stayed in the title race after notching a 3-1 home win over Montpellier.

Andre-Villas Boas’ side sit fifth, eight points off Lyon but with two games in hand.

Pochettino appointed as PSG head coach

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PARIS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been hired as the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, the French league giant announced on Saturday.

The Argentine, 48, who replaced Thomas Tuchel of Germany, penned a contract until June 2020, with the option of an extra year.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mauricio Pochettino as the first-team coach,” said Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chairman of PSG. “The return of Mauricio fits perfectly with our ambitions and it will be another exciting chapter for the club and one I am positive the fans will enjoy.”

Pochettino played for PSG as a central defender between 2001 and 2003, scoring six goals in his 95 appearances.

“I am really happy and honored to become the new coach of Paris Saint-Germain,” said Pochettino after signing his contract.

“This club has always held a special place in my heart. I have wonderful memories, especially of the unique atmosphere of the Parc des Princes.

“I return to the club today with a lot of ambition and humility, and am eager to work with some of the world’s most talented players.”

After his retirement, Pochettino started his coaching career at Spanish club Espanyol in 2009, before moving to England to take the reins of Southampton between 2013 to 2014, and Tottenham from 2014 to 2019.

He established himself as one of the world’s elite coaches at the north London side where he led the team to its first Champions League final in 2019, only to lose to fellow Premier League team Liverpool in the showdown.

He was sacked five months later as the club only ranked 14th in the Premier League three months into the new season, and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

Similarly, Tuchel was dismissed by PSG only four months after he guided the capital-based club to its first Champions League final, where it was defeated by German champion Bayern Munich 1-0.

Tuchel’s final match in charge of PSG was a 4-0 win over Strasbourg on Dec. 23 before the winter break, leaving the Ligue 1 defending champion in third place on the table, one point off leader Lyon and second-placed Lille.

Pochettino will make his coaching debut for PSG on Jan. 6 when the side travel to Saint-Etienne in the league.

Wanyama: I was pissed off after Champions League final snub

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Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has revealed he was pissed off by former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino for leaving him out of the starting lineup in the Champions League final against Liverpool last year.

After a good performance in the semi-finals versus Ajax, Wanyama expected to be in the starting line-up but the Argentine opted to name him on the bench.

“I was frustrated, I was really, really pissed off not to start that game,” Wanyama told the Athletic.

“And even more pissed off because we didn’t win. I tried to encourage those who played.

“We went back to the hotel after the game. I couldn’t sleep at all. The situation was going around in my head. My brother Mariga was also on the bench in a Champions League final for Inter Milan against Bayern Munich [in 2010].

“He had to sit on the bench for the full game, so he could relate and understood what I was going through.”

Wanyama had suffered a knee injury which had sidelined him for a long spell. However, when he came back it was not the same.

“When I came back from injury I didn’t get enough chances to play and enjoy my football. When I came back, the club should have trusted me and given me more chances to play again.

“I was fit and training well. I never argued with Pochettino but I wanted to speak to him. I went to his office but he was busy. I saw his assistant Jesus [Perez].

“He told me to be patient, that my chance would come blah, blah, blah. I didn’t go to see them again. That’s why I left the club. I’m a football player and I wanted to play football. “I love Spurs, but I love playing football more.”

Wanyama joined Spurs in 2016 and made 97 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring seven goals.

Tottenham set to play Champions League quarter-final at new White Hart Lane

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Tottenham hope to play their Champions League quarter-final in the new White Hart Lane after a 4-0 aggregate victory over Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.

According to Manager Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs are planning to finally open their new stadium next month after almost a whole season of delays. The first match has not yet been announced, and hinges on whether Brighton will be able to play Tottenham on Sunday 7 April or whether they will be playing an FA Cup semi-final.

But Spurs will have a ‘home’ leg on 9-10 or 16-17 April which Pochettino said tonight could be at the new ground.

“I expect to play in the new stadium,” Pochettino said when asked about playing the quarter-final at the new ground. “We were talking yesterday with the chairman, it was very positive. I hope yes. Before the game we were listening to the Champions League song, and I was talking with Jesus [Perez]. It would be amazing, to be standing in the new stadium and to hear it before the game. Now we are in the quarter-final, we hope we can finish it and we can listen to the song in there.”

As well as the Brighton game, Spurs have a Premier League game against Huddersfield on Saturday 13 April, between the two legs of the Champions League quarter-finals that could also open the new stadium.

Pochettino also let slip that he is expecting to be issued with a touchline ban tomorrow morning for his rant at Mike Dean at Turf Moor last week. “I am not going to talk about it, but you are going to see why,” Pochettino said.

“I am very disappointed but I don’t think it is going to change, I don’t care. If we are not going to receive help from our people, in our country, only I can laugh. But you are going to see why tomorrow.” That ban is likely to be for Spurs’ trip to Southampton this Saturday.

Tottenham’s loss to Burnley at Turf Moor leaves Pochettino furious with Mike Dean

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There was drama at Turf Moor as Mauricio Pochettino strode to the centre of the pitch to confront Mike Dean after Tottenham 2-1 loss to host Burnley.

Pochettino’s unhappiness may have been the result of some borderline decisions going against his team. It could just as easily have been caused by the sight of a Premier League title challenge slipping away.

Yet it had all looked set up for Tottenham to win the game when, 20 minutes into the second half, Harry Kane marked his return from ankle ligament damage by striding through to score his 21st goal of the season.

There was an element of controversy in this goal; Danny Rose had taken a quick throw-in down the left, five yards further forward from where the ball went out of play, allowing him to clear Burnley centre-back Ben Mee’s head.

The coolness of the finish will have impressed England manager Gareth Southgate, watching from the stand, but he was not the only international head coach who left with something to think about.

Austria’s Franco Foda, also in attendance, saw Ashley Barnes touch in Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross seven minutes from the end to win the game. Barnes, who scored for the fourth match in a row, qualifies for Austria through his grandmother.

Southgate, with a squad to pick for Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro next month, would have been impressed too by Tom Heaton, who made a flying save early in the second half to tip away Kane’s fierce, bending 25-yard shot.

Heaton, who has been outstanding since displacing Joe Hart at the end of December, must fancy his chances of an international call-up.

It proved a crucial save, because seven minutes later, Burnley opened the scoring, courtesy of one of the decisions that caused Pochettino to fume.

It came from a corner that Tottenham felt should not have been awarded, with the officials having judged that Hendrick’s attempted cross had touched Jan Vertonghen last before going out of play.

With that argument still bubbling, Dwight McNeil delivered the set-piece, and Wood rose above Foyth to head in off the underside of the bar.

Up until that point, the spotlight had been on Kane’s comeback. The first half suggested, by and large, that the World Cup’s Golden Boot winner was shaking off his rustiness.

Burnley had not built a seven-match unbeaten league run by wilting under pressure. As Tottenham probed for an opening, Sean Dyche’s side stood up to the challenge, sometimes going up to the boundary of legitimate force.

The two goals brought a fascinating match to life. To Burnley’s credit, they did not falter after losing their lead.

Instead, they continued to create chances. Hendrick steered just wide after being played in by Ashley Westwood, and McNeil saw a shot shovelled out by Lloris.

Then came the late twist courtesy of Barnes: a shattering blow to Pochettino’s season.

Tottenham sniff Champions League quarters with 3-0 victory over Dortmund as Real Madrid score late to pip stubborn Ajax

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Tottenham were forced to wait for the second half to beat Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund 3-0 after a balanced first half during their Champions League match at Wembley.

The victory placed Spurs in a pole position to reach quarter-finals despite heading to Dortmund in a fortnight for the second leg

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were irresistible after a tight first half, Son Heung-min breaking the deadlock two minutes after the interval with a side-foot volley from Jan Vertonghen’s cross.

Dortmund, regarded by many as favourites with Spurs missing injured talisman Harry Kane as well as Dele Alli, failed to respond and the home side rammed home their superiority in the last 10 minutes.

The outstanding Vertonghen slid in on Serge Aurier’s delivery and substitute Fernando Llorente headed in Christian Eriksen’s near-post corner – with Spurs also keeping a clean sheet to enhance their chance of progressing.

They survived a fierce first half, when keeper Hugo Lloris saved crucially from Dan-Axel Zagadou’s header, to gather themselves for a sustained second-half assault.

And there were heroes to be found everywhere as Spurs’ defence was so assured and the whole side so well-drilled that Dortmund barely threatened after the break.

Son has risen superbly to the extra responsibility thrust upon him by Kane’s absence while Vertonghen was inspired in all areas, not only in his accustomed defensive position but further forward as he created one goal and scored another.

Lots of eyes were on two young talents in the Dortmund line-up, with 18-year-old Jadon Sancho a big future England hope and 20-year-old Christian Pulisic on his way to Chelsea in the summer in a £58m deal.

This was not the night to make any serious judgement as Dortmund were ultimately overpowered by Spurs.

Sancho, who delayed Dortmund’s flight to London by forgetting his passport, showed flashes of pace and quality in the first half but disappeared from view as Spurs assumed total control.

Pulisic was a peripheral figure throughout and it is clear he will arrive at Stamford Bridge very much as a work in progress.

Real Madrid players celebrate one of their goals against Ajax at Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. Real beat Ajax 2-1 in the Champions League round 16 match on Wednesday. ***PHOTO: COURTESY***

In Amsterdam, Real Madrid waited for a late winner from Marco Asensio and VAR’s decision in the Champions League to beat a spirited Ajax 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 on Wednesday

Ajax started strongly and took advantage of a Thiabaut Courtois when Nicolas Tagliafico headed home what looked like an opener, but referee Damir Skomina judged Dusan Tadic to be offside upon review.

Karim Benzema put Los Blanco in the lead in the 60th minute with a well taken strike after Vinicius Junior’s powerful run at the home side defence.

Hakim Ziyech’s equaliser 15 minutes later at least gave Ajax hopes but Asensio’s 87th-minute winner was a sucker-punch in a match the Dutch team had largely dominated.

Their ruled out opener will likely only add to the sense of what might have been and it was no surprise to see a cluster of red and white shirts surrounding the officials at the final whistle.

UNITED MANAGER: Rooney hails ex-teammate Solskjaer’s impressive work, but roots for Pochettino

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Former Manchester United captain and all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney has backed Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to get the United managerial job on a permanent basis if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is overlooked.

United have won nine of the ten matches Solskjaer has overseen since Jose Mourinho in December.

And Rooney, who played alongside Solskjaer at Old Trafford, says his former team-mate deserves a shot at the position long-term, providing he keeps up his impressive start.

“It’d be nice to see Ole Gunnar continue with this form and get a shot at the job on a permanent basis,” Rooney said

“But if the club is to choose from somewhere else, then I think Pochettino would be the right guy.”

While the Norwegian has impressed key figures at Old Trafford and is reported to be very close with Sir Alex Fergusion , Tottenham boss Pochettino is still regarded as the club’s No1 choice.

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has made Pochettino his top choice manager after the work he did at Southampton and now at Tottenham and Spurs would fight tooth and nail to keep him.

We are disappointed, Pochettino says after Spurs FA Cup lose to Crystal Palace

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Mauricio Pochettino is disappointed his Tottenham Hotspur team exited the FA Cup despite doing everything to avoid defeat against Crystal Palace.

Pochettino tinkered with his team for the trip to Selhurst Park after Thursday’s Carabao Cup exit to Chelsea, with only four players – Fernando Llorente, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen and Paulo Gazzaniga – retaining their place in the side.

Despite a spirited second-half showing, the damage was done in the first half as Connor Wickham netted his first goal in two years and Andros Townsend scored from the spot to make it 2-0, a feat Kieran Trippier could not match on the stroke of half-time.

“I think the performance wasn’t bad. It was an even game,” Pochettino told BT Sport.

“I think we created the chances, I think we had the possession, but in the end football is about scoring goals if you want to win and we didn’t score,” he said.

Pochettino said Palace didn’t do too much in the game but scored and deserve to go through to the next stage of the FA Cup.

He said they have started preparing for a league match against Watford on Wednesday before they host Borussia Dortmund in Champions League knockout stage.

Menwhile, Chelsea beat struggling second-tier Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to advance to the fifth round.

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored on what could be his final Chelsea appearance as Willian netted twice at Stamford Bridge.

Hudson-Odoi started despite reportedly submitting a transfer request in an effort to force through a move to Bayern Munich ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The 18-year-old winger netted Chelsea’s second goal after 64 minutes.

Chelsea edge out Tottenham on penalties to set date with Manchester City at Carabao Cup final

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Chelsea provided the perfect response to manager Maurizio Sarri’s public criticism to progress to the Carabao Cup final with a 4-2 win over Tottenham on penalties in an electrifying semi-final, second leg on Thursday

First-half goals from N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard handed Chelsea a 2-1 win on the night to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit.

Willian, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and David Luiz then scored from the spot to send the Blues through to face Manchester City on February 24th, while Eric Dier and Lucas Moura missed for Spurs.

Sarri had questioned the mental strength of his squad and demanded Hazard to deliver more on his abundant potential in the wake of a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, and the Italian got the what he desired against an injury-hit Spurs.

Kante levelled the tie with a shot from the edge of the box that went through three pairs of Spurs legs before Hazard rounded off an excellent team move to double Chelsea’s lead.

Fernando Llorente’s header hauled the visitors back into the tie five minutes into the second-half, but another chance for Spurs to win a first trophy under Mauricio Pochettino was swept aside after the penalities.

Spurs’ spirit could not be questioned as they battled to stay in the tie for 90 minutes despite the absence of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min, but it could prove a costly night for Pochettino’s men as Ben Davies and Moussa Sissoko added to their growing list of injuries.

Sarri has been criticised for persisting with Hazard in a centre-forward position of late and the decision to move the Belgian back to his prefered role on the left of a front three paid dividends.

Chelsea’s new number nine Gonzalo Higuain was presented to the home fans before kick-off, but the Argentine’s loan move from Juventus was not completed in time for him to feature so Olivier Giroud was handed a rare start as the focal point of the attack.

Chelsea will face Manchester City who beat Burton 10-0 on aggregate to reach book a ticket in the final.

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