Established 1961 15 Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Sports Refreshed Pochettino embraces PSG project SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, France: Mauricio things are looking good in Europe, with Kylian Pochettino was given the luxury of time at Mbappe’s hat-trick helping Pochettino’s side thrash Tottenham Hotspur to build a team that would go Barcelona 4-1 away in the first leg of their on to reach a Champions League final, but the Champions League last-16 tie last month. The Argentine knows the demands are different now he return is on March 10, but a quarter-final place is in charge at Paris Saint-Germain. seems secure, while PSG are currently second in “We got to the Champions League final after five Ligue 1, two points behind leaders Lille. years working towards it. We built a platform and a structure and our objective was to be able to com- ‘Complicated situation’ pete for these things,” Pochettino says in an inter- It has been a whirlwind start to life back in Paris view with AFP in Paris, where he arrived in January for Pochettino, who played for PSG between 2001 refreshed after more than a year out of the game and 2003. He had to spend a week in self-isolation following his departure from Tottenham. He took the after catching the coronavirus, and along with his north London club to the 2019 final, cementing his coaching team has had to contend with a long list of reputation as one Europe’s most exciting coaches injuries, including to superstars Neymar and Angel despite losing 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid. Di Maria. He is still living in a hotel in a chic neigh- “We had gone almost two years at Tottenham borhood of the French capital, having not yet man- without signing any players when we got to the aged to find a permanent home. final. We have only been here two months,” he “Everything with COVID is making it harder. Our points out. “At Tottenham we had the necessary families are split between London and Barcelona time to develop something and it bore fruit with a and they can’t travel either. It is a very complicated mix of young players and experienced players. The situation at the moment,” says the Argentine, who project at PSG has been a different one for a num- arrived with a backroom team including his son, ber of years. We will see how we can create a proj- Sebastiano. “We have played 13 matches, which is a ect that will be different to what we did at huge amount in two months, and all of us on the Tottenham but will have the same objective, to win.” staff have caught COVID, all at different times. We SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, France: Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Nothing less will do for the Argentine, whose have been lucky in that the symptoms were not too Pochettino poses at the team’s training grounds in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, outside Paris, on predecessor Thomas Tuchel was sacked in serious but it has still had an effect and we are all Monday. —AFP December, four months after taking PSG to the recovering. Then we have had lots of injuries in the Champions League final having secured a clean team, so we are having to adapt every day.” sweep of the domestic honors in France. The Qatar- transmit his ideas,” he says. “We have assumed our latter is fit. “Great players have similar characteris- owned club lost to Bayern Munich in Lisbon, and Mbappe and Neymar responsibility and are trying to make the most of tics,” he replies when asked about what it is like to Pochettino knows the aim now is to go one better Despite the difficult circumstances, he admits he what we have without making major structural work with the two most expensive players in histo- and win the trophy. could not turn down the chance to take the job changes because halfway through the season the ry. “They are humble, they love football, they “Obviously this club aspires to win the when the call came from PSG’s sporting director most important thing is that we adapt and optimise respect the rules, they help their teammates. When Champions League. Lots of other clubs are trying Leonardo. “We had long conversations in which our what we have.” they have that level of technical ability and they to win it too, and have invested lots of money but visions were quite similar. I obviously already knew The demands are great but it helps being able to understand the game, then of course it makes any can’t win it because it is not so easy,” he says. So far PSG and so that made it a bit easier for him to call upon Mbappe and Neymar, at least when the coach’s job easier.” —AFP Real Madrid held by Matches on TV Real Sociedad to give (Local Timings) ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Atletico advantage Burnley v Leicester City 21:00 bein sports MADRID: Real Madrid’s chances of chasing down La Liga Sheffield United v Aston Villa 21:00 leaders Atletico Madrid were dealt a blow on Monday as bein sports they needed a late Vinicius Junior equalizer to secure a 1-1 Crystal Palace v Manchester United 23:15 draw with Real Sociedad. It could have been worse for Zinedine Zidane’s side, with Vinicius’ finish in the 89th bein sports minute preventing what would have been a damaging defeat after a weekend in which both Atletico and ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE Barcelona had won. US Sassuolo Calcio v SSC Napoli 20:30 Atletico’s victory over Villarreal on Sunday put them beIN Sports HD 3 six points clear of Real Madrid, an advantage that is now Genoa CFC v UC Sampdoria 22:45 only cut to five ahead of next week’s Madrid derby at the beIN Sports Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico also have a game in hand. Benevento v Hellas Verona FC 22:45 The result ends Real Madrid’s run of five consecutive wins beIN Sports while Portu’s brilliant header for Real Sociedad early in the MADRID: Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro (top right) heads the ball with Real Sociedad’s second half was also the first goal conceded by the reign- Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi (top left) during the Spanish league football match between Real ACF Fiorentina v AS Roma 22:45 ing champions in five games. Madrid CF and Real Sociedad at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid beIN Sports HD 1 It represents an important shift in momentum. A few on Monday. —AFP Atalanta v Crotone 22:45 days ago Atletico might have hoped just to hold on to first beIN Sports HD 7 place next weekend but now they could spy an opportuni- AC Milan v Udinese Calcio 22:45 ty to all but knock their opponents out of the title race. Derby return the ball quickly shifted through midfield and out to the beIN Sports HD 3 “We’re playing for a lot there,” said Real Madrid goal- Benzema could return for the derby and one positive left, where Nacho Monreal had time to launch a cross to Cagliari Calcio v Bologna FC 22:45 keeper Thibaut Courtois. “We can win, we’re physically for Zidane was the sight of others returning, with Fede the back post. Ferland Mendy looked like he would clear beIN Sports strong and we’re getting players back. There’s a lot of time Valverde, Marcelo and Rodrygo all back in his squad. but instead was caught under the ball, allowing Portu to left to keep fighting in La Liga.” “Karim can be with us, yes, we’re going to see,” said jump and send a brilliant header across Courtois and Barcelona kept their own resurgence going on Zidane, when asked about the striker’s chances of facing into the net. FRENCH LEAGUE Saturday by overcoming Sevilla and now sit level on points Atletico. “Still, he hasn’t trained with the team but the Madrid’s pressure would come but Real Sociedad Stade brestois 29 v FCO Dijon 21:00 with Real Madrid, having also played one game fewer than problem is a lot better, tomorrow we’ll analyse him.” could have made it two, only for Alexander Isak to fall beIN Sports the leaders. Real Sociedad sit fifth, the top four seemingly Madrid had the better chances in an entertaining first just short of Mikel Oyarzabal’s pass across. Zidane sent Olympique Lyonnais v Stade Rennais 21:00 out of reach. half, the best of them falling to Mariano Diaz at the back Vinicius, Rodrygo and Hugo Duro on and there were beIN Sports HD 2 Madrid had 20 shots to Real Sociedad’s six but lacked post but he headed against the crossbar under pressure chances. Casemiro and Duro both missed headers while FC Metz v Angers SCO21:00 edge in the final third, with the injured Karim Benzema from a yard out. Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio both Rodrygo skewed wide before Vinicius struck one minute beIN Sports HD 6 watching on from the stands. “We’ve had games where we went close and Real Sociedad were dangerous on the from time, steering in Lucas Vazquez’s cross when given OGC Nice v Nimes Olympique 21:00 won and maybe we didnt deserve to win as well, we can’t break, just unable to find the final pass to make their space in the box.