PSG Confirm Tuchel Departure, Pochettino Favourite to Take Over
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Sports Wednesday, December 30, 2020 13 PSG confirm Tuchel departure, Pochettino favourite to take over AFP his opening match in charge will reported that he is organising PARIS be January 6’s trip to Saint- a huge New Year’s Eve party Etienne on Ligue 1’s resumption despite the coronavirus pan- PARIS Saint-Germain on I would like to thank after the winter break. demic – claims his lawyers Tuesday confirmed the sack- Thomas Tuchel and his staff Then, on February 16, the have denied. ing of coach Thomas Tuchel, for everything they brought Argentinian could face his first Pochettino is the son of a who had been at the club since to the club. Thomas has put massive test against his com- farmer from Murphy, in the July 2018, but did not name a lot of energy and passion patriot Lionel Messi’s Barce- north of Argentina. his successor. lona, with the return leg on He is known as a stickler “After an in-depth analy- into the job, and we will of March 6. for detail, which coupled with sis of its sporting situation, course remember the good Pochettino was let go after his tactical acumen, devotion Paris Saint-Germain decided moments we shared five and a half years at Tot- to an attractive style of play to terminate Thomas Tuchel’s together. I wish him all the tenham in the aftermath of and his popularity amongst contract,” the French giants best for the future leading the north London side Parisian fans, makes him a po- announced in a statement. to their first ever appearance tentially ideal fit as the new oc- Argentinian Mauricio Po- PSG President Nasser in a Champions League final cupant of the PSG dugout. chettino, the ex-Tottenham Al Khelaifi. against Liverpool in 2019. He would have under his coach and a former PSG play- Although he has yet to wing several compatriots such er, is widely reported to be the win any silverware the former as Mauro Icardi, Angel Di Ma- favourite to take over. Despite appearing to be PSG defender’s stock is high in ria and Leandro Paredes. Tuchel, whose axing was adept at man-managing PSG’s managerial circles. His anticipated arrival be- widely reported but uncon- squad of superstar players The Parisians will be fore the winter transfer win- firmed last week, managed such as Neymar and Kylian keen to complete his signing dow will allow him to bring PSG 127 times in all competi- Mbappe, Tuchel reportedly and avoid missing their man in new faces, potentially one tions, with 95 wins, 12 draws upset the Qatari-backed club who has been linked to the former Spurs charge, Inter and 20 defeats. after complaining about an Thomas Tuchel with Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al Khelaifi at the Khalifa International Tennis likes of Real Madrid, Man- Milan’s attacking midfielder His trophy haul featured apparent lack of recognition at and Squash Complex in Doha. chester United and Barca in Christian Eriksen. two Ligue 1 titles (2019, 2020) leading PSG to the Champions recent months. And looking further ahead, as well as the French Cup and League final. job, and we will of course re- to leave mid-season since a last 16 Champions League Importantly, Pochet- given their Argentine ties, Po- French League Cup in 2020. “I would like to thank member the good moments Antoine Kombouare was re- clash with Barcelona and PSG tino, like Tuchel, is at ease chettino may be the catalyst The 47-year-old German Thomas Tuchel and his staff we shared together. I wish him placed by Carlo Ancelotti in sitting third in Ligue 1 – a in man-managing a dressing for six-time Ballon d’Or win- also led the Parisian club for all they have contributed to all the best for the future.” December 2011. point shy of leaders Lyon – room crammed with a galaxy ner Messi to start regarding to their first ever Champi- the club,” said PSG chairman Less than three months on despite being plagued by inju- of stars. PSG as potential new employ- ons League final last August, Nasser Al Khelaifi. from the final defeat to Bayern Barca date looms ries, suspensions and corona- Neymar has been at the ers when he is free to move which they lost 1-0 to Bayern “Thomas has put a lot of Munich in Lisbon, Tuchel has Tuchel departs the Parc virus infections. centre of new controversy this from the Camp Nou at the end Munich. energy and passion into the become the first PSG coach des Princes having secured Should Pochettino take over, week after Brazilian media of the season. ATP adjusts 2021 tennis PREMIER LEAGUE calendar, Qatar ExxonMobil Arsenal ease pressure on coach Open scheduled for March Arteta amid Covid concerns AFP strike in off the post before Indian Wells LONDON Jack Harrison slotted home the third after a neat one-two on hold ARSENAL further eased the with Patrick Bamford. AFP pressure on manager Mikel Rodrigo’s deflected strike PARIS Arteta with a 1-0 win at made it 4-0 before half-time Brighton on Tuesday, but the and Raphinha’s powerful THE coronavirus pandemic continuation of the Premier strike into the top corner in- continues to reshape the men’s League in the coming weeks flicted Sam Allardyce’s heav- tennis calendar with Indian was cast into doubt after a iest ever home defeat in the Wells absent from the sched- record 18 positive tests for Premier League. ule for the eight weeks follow- coronavirus among players Sheffield United are the ing the Australian Open, re- and staff earlier in the day. only side below West Brom leased by the ATP on Tuesday. After Manchester City’s in the table and their chances Indian Wells in California trip to Everton on Monday of survival are diminishing is traditionally the first Mas- was postponed due to a Covid rapidly with just two points ters event of the year on the outbreak in Pep Guardiola’s from their opening 16 games. men’s tour and runs alongside squad, all five matches sched- Ben Mee scored the only a women’s tournament. uled for Tuesday went ahead goal at Turf Moor as Burnley The ATP said that “due to despite disruption for Sheffield moved five points clear of the the impact of COVID-19” it United and Southampton. relegation zone and above would not be held on “its cus- Bottom-of-the-table Brighton into 16th. tomary dates in March.” United revealed they had Southampton missed the The tournament organis- pushed back to February 8-21 Aires host events starting on suffered a number of positive chance to move into the top ers released a statement say- in a reconfigured schedule for Monday, March 1 and Santiago, Covid-19 cases but were still four as they failed to score for ing: “This decision was made the first seven weeks of 2021 Doha and Marseille hold tour- able to field a squad of 18 for the third consecutive game in after thorough consultation released on December 17. naments the following week. their 1-0 defeat at Burnley. a 0-0 draw with West Ham. with state and local health On Tuesday, the ATP said The tournaments in Aca- Southampton manager Danny Ings had an early authorities.” that the Australian Open, the pulco and Dubai will be played Ralph Hasenhuttl coached goal ruled out for offside “The tournament is pro- men’s tour would be followed in the week of March 8. his side from his home for a against Che Adams and de- actively working with the ATP by European indoor events The ATP had already an- 0-0 draw against West Ham spite the Saints’ dominance and WTA Tours as well as title and swings through Latin nounced that events not tak- after a member of his house- they were nearly hit by a sponsor BNP Paribas to con- American and the Middle East ing place in 2021 due to the hold tested positive. sucker punch late on when firm dates later in the year to leading up to the Miami Open, pandemic would include the On the field, Arsenal eased Alex McCarthy had to spread hold the event.” a Masters event, from March ASB Classic in Auckland and fears they could be dragged himself to block Said Ben- California is suffering a 24 to April 4. the New York Open, while the into a relegation battle with a rahma’s shot from point- spike in virus cases. Under the revised sched- Maharashtra Open in India is 3-1 win over Chelsea on Sat- blank range. “As of December 28, ule, the week following the under a cloud. urday and can now look up Southampton remain California has 2,155,976 con- Australian Open will offer The Rio Open will not take the table with hope thanks to Arsenal’s French striker Alexandre Lacazette (centre) celebrates ninth with West Ham three firmed cases of COVID-19, tournaments in Cordoba in place as originally scheduled, consecutive league wins for scoring during the English Premier League match against Brighton points further back in 10th. resulting in 24,284 deaths. Argentina and Montpellier in with the ATP saying alternative the first time since the open- and Hove Albion at the American Express Community Stadium in Manchester United can The number of COVID-related France. They replace events in dates were being considered. ing two games of the season. Brighton, England, on Tuesday. (AFP) move up to second and deaths increased by 0.3 per- Santiago in Chile, which has The ATP said that “all sub- Pierre-Emerick Au- within two points of leaders cent from the prior day total of been pushed back two weeks, sequent sections of the 2021 bameyang returned from in- 26 seconds after coming on evaporated in a 5-0 hammer- Liverpool when they host 24,220,” the state government Acapulco and Dubai, which calendar, beginning with the jury in the place of Alexandre Victory moves the Gun- ing by Leeds.