The new PSG boss has made it clear that reputations count for nothing in his squad selections after officially taking charge.
Mauricio Pochettino insists his new players ‘have to deserve to wear the jersey’ after his appointment as Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed.
The Parisians unveiled Pochettino for the first time on Saturday evening. The Argentine has put pen-to-paper on a contract until 2022 in what is his first coaching role since leaving Tottenham in November 2019.
The pressure will be on right from the offset. Pochettino impressed by leading Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019, along with four consecutive top-four Premier League finishes. But only trophies, especially that elusive first one in Europe’s top-tier club competition, will be good enough in Paris.
🎙💬 "I'm very happy to be here, I think it's an amazing opportunity, it's an amazing project"
The first interview with our new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino!
🔴🔵 #AllezParis pic.twitter.com/Pm8o7AD8bA
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 2, 2021
The 48-year-old, therefore, expects his players to give it everything week-in and week-out.
“In this club, it’s always been about excellence. The players have to deserve to wear the jersey,” Pochettino told the club’s website.
“I think that it’s a fantastic squad and I think that we can accomplish what this club and the players want because they are competitors and they want to lift trophies.”
He added: “The players here are some of the best here, they are the main actors and they need to love what they do on the pitch, it’s really important.”
Pochettino’s first match in charge of PSG is set to be away to Saint-Etienne on Wednesday in Ligue 1.
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