Paris (AFP)

A nice welcome gift: Paris SG beat Brest (3-0) on Saturday, to offer their new coach Mauricio Pochettino, who returned to the Parc des Princes, his first victory.

As in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday (1-1), "Poche" captured the attention more than its players.

"Back home. Welcome captain," greeted the ultras in a banner that recalled his past as a defender, spent at the club between 2001 and 2003.

But the popular Argentinian, who left good memories in the capital with the supporters, did not strike the memories for his comeback.

It is the fault of Lyon who won, by one point, the honorary title of autumn champion, which crowns the team at the top at the end of the first leg.

By snatching a draw in Rennes (2-2), OL deprived Pochettino of the icing on his Paris-Brest.

And reminded him that nothing will be given to him in Ligue 1.

Indeed, the last time that Paris was not first halfway through the Championship, Monaco had been crowned, in 2017. That season, halfway through, Unai Emery's men had as many points as this year. (39) ...

Pochettino, as he repeated in a press conference, is not the type to look at the past.

Arrived at Christmas in place of Thomas Tuchel, he wants to "build" and "win in style".

For the first point, the Champions Trophy, Wednesday against Marseille in Lens, is a golden opportunity to launch his mandate, and finally to open his trophy cabinet, he who has not won any as a coach.

For the style, it is still under construction.

The goals of Moise Kean (16th), Mauro Icardi (81st) and Pablo Sarabia (83rd) do not necessarily reflect the physiognomy of a meeting that Paris struggled to master.

- Icardi finally scores -

Overwhelmed by their loss of bullets, the Parisians have long exposed themselves to Brest counterparts.

Without the judgment of Keylor Navas, still decisive, (5th) or the failed control of Irvin Cardona (37th), "Poche" would have lived a very different evening.

The absence of Neymar, who is recovering from an ankle injury, weighs on the animation, especially as Kylian Mbappé continues to chain the blunders, after those observed in Saint-Etienne.

But like his predecessor Thomas Tuchel, Pochettino knows how to be pragmatic and be satisfied with the positive elements, such as the efficiency found on set pieces.

It was following a corner from Angel di Maria that Moise Kean, with a header, cleared the score for his 4th goal in the last five days.

Marquinhos (25th) and Marco Verratti (32nd) also distinguished themselves in the exercise, with less success.

PSG have also shown their willingness to press high, and this for 90 minutes, while they have struggled to go the distance in recent weeks.

The return of Icardi, scorer for the first time since September 27, is also good news for "Poche", who finally felt at home at the Parc des Princes.

© 2021 AFP