Paris (AFP)
A lost final, some disappointments: coach Mauricio Pochettino shares a European record similar to that of Paris SG of the Qatari era.
But the Argentine refuses to be "affected" in the past, he told AFP, and promises to fight "to the death" to win the Champions League.
Arrived in January, the finalist of the 2019 edition on the bench of Tottenham made a dream start with PSG in C1: he guided Paris to a triumph on the lawn of FC Barcelona (4-1) which removed the prospect of a new "remount", during the 8th return, Wednesday (9:00 p.m.).
Well almost ... Because at PSG, the memory of the beating received against Barça in 2017 (6-1, go: 0-4), at the same stage of the competition, remains tenacious.
She nurtured among some supporters the idea that a curse hits the club every winter.
This year, Neymar's injury in February recalled this dark history.
The hard blow suffered by "Ney" plunged Pochettino into the large Parisian bath, rather icy.
But the Brazilian is in the process of recovery and the former defender and captain of PSG (2001-2003) is tough.
"We are not affected by this past. We came here with a free spirit, and without prejudice. These ideas only convey negativity. Staying focused on the past limits your future possibilities," he explained in a commentary. interview with AFP.
"We come with new energy, we believe that we have the potential to remain in contention in the Champions League. In football, conviction allows you to get closer to victory," he argues.
- "Not so easy" -
His optimistic speech contrasts with that of his predecessor Thomas Tuchel, who complained about the uncompensated departure of several executives during the summer.
For the German, the squad which reached the final last August weakened thereafter.
For the Argentine, conversely, the group remains strong enough to win this title set up as a priority by its Qatari owner.
"Clearly it's the club's ambition to win it. There are a lot of other teams that want to win it, it's not that easy. We are aware of our responsibility, and we will fight until 'to death to achieve it,' says Pochettino.
"Poche" knows the route.
In 2019, he led Tottenham to their first Champions League final, lost to Liverpool (2-0) in Madrid.
If the scenario of the defeat left him with regrets, his career forged his reputation as a charismatic leader: the disheveled confrontations against Manchester City (1-0, 3-4) and Ajax Amsterdam (0-1, 3-2 ) remained memorable.
And to think that before this epic, Pochettino had never exceeded the round of 16 of a European competition ...
- Not the same recipe -
But for Paris, it is not the same recipe that he intends to apply.
"(At Tottenham) we went to the final after five years of work, the time to create a structure that could allow us these ambitions. We also spent a year without recruiting. We have been in Paris for two months, that's been a big difference, ”he explains.
"It was another project in Paris in recent years, today we see how to create our own. It's a different job than at Tottenham, but the objective remains the same, to win," he said.
This failure against the Reds, while the Cup with big ears was at hand, evokes that of PSG against Bayern (1-0) in August.
But Pochettino is not animated by a feeling of revenge, just like the management of the Parisian club.
"Coming to training every morning, being with the players, the staff, trying to improve, that's what motivates me. Maybe I even have more motivation to go to the training center than to be in competition, "he sweeps.
"Within the staff, we believe a lot in the preparation, the construction of a state of form. Motivation, concentration, that is built day by day," he describes.
Thoroughly into the PSG project, the former player and coach of Espanyol Barcelona goes so far as to dismiss the personal satisfaction that the elimination of Barça would give him.
"I'm not a fan of Espanyol who goes beyond the limits. Winning at Barcelona has a special flavor. But we want to win for PSG, for our players, for the fans, and finally, for us themselves ", he concludes.
© 2021 AFP