Pending the formalization of his appointment, Mauricio Pochettino has still not set foot in Paris. The future new PSG coach is still in London where he continues to reside. But his Parisian adventure will finally take shape since the former technician from Tottenham is expected in the French capital probably on January 1.
The Argentinian should give himself time to spend Christmas Eve with his family in his English home before getting to the heart of the matter. Still, the former club defender between 2001 and 2003 did not sit idly by in recent days. He began to learn about the practices of the club in the capital in the wake of what he had done last January over coffee with Unai Emery.
In contact with the medical staff
Pochettino also came into direct contact with the medical staff and Doctor Christophe Baudot. He also received the athletic data of all the players and the content of the sessions from his predecessor Thomas Tuchel. The Argentinian was particularly surprised by the physical volume of some sessions, he who is known for the hardness of his training.
From Sunday, date of the first session with the new technical staff, the Parisians will have to familiarize themselves with a very demanding working method. All the players who have crossed the road of the ex-technician of Spurs, but also of Espanyol Barcelona and Southampton, describe varied, long and game-oriented sessions, whose physique and intensity form the trait of ‘union.
Ditto for indoor exercises where it is not uncommon for the staff cameraman to invite himself to film the players sweating on their devices. A way for Pochettino to maintain competition between its various elements and to keep those which are seldom used concerned. For some, it takes time to adapt to digest this mass of work. “But no one can mess around, and at the slightest mistake, you can squirt,” sums up one of his former players.
He should rely on the famous council of the wise
The new PSG coach also knows how to enhance his work with à la carte sessions. In Tottenham, he added “free” training in the afternoon where offensive players like Kane, Son or Ali could work on strikes from a distance. What made that the Spurs, and in particular Eriksen the Danish attacking midfielder, have acquired a certain control in this exercise.
Likewise, and unlike Unai Emery who when he arrived wanted competition in all positions, Pochettino knows which players he can count on. In Tottenham, he often exchanged with Lloris, Kane, Vertonghen, Eriksen, his main relays in the field. In Paris, he should rely on the famous council of wise men which include Marquinhos, Verratti, Mbappé, Kimpembe, Navas. Without forgetting Neymar with whom he will have to learn to compose.
