PSG: around Pochettino, more than a staff, a family

Since then, they have never left each other, except during the few months of confinement following their dismissal from Tottenham in November 2019. For having spent a week in training at Tottenham as part of his coaching diploma, Nicolas Usaï, can testify to the “very strong links” that he observed between Pochettino and his deputies. “There is a very high level of trust,” underlines the former coach of Châteauroux. There is a lot of warmth and empathy between them. And a lot of skill. A staff like that, who has been evolving together for years, actually has relationships that go beyond the athlete. These are really relationships of men and of great loyalty. “

Close from morning to evening

For Pochettino and his followers, the human adventure is also shared on a daily basis. From morning to night. “They live like family or very good friends,” says Guillem Balague, author of “Brave New World”, a story in the privacy of Spurs and Pochettino published in 2017. In the morning they are used to taking mate prepared by Toni or Miki (Miguel). They sit down together and go over the schedule for the day. It is obviously not the only staff to do that but at home, it is completely natural and made by desire. “

In Southampton, when the quartet were living at the hotel, it was not uncommon for them to find themselves in the same room to watch Europa League games on Thursday evenings, and after thirteen hours of work, they were ‘fall asleep on the beds.

The strength of the ties between Pochettino and his deputies is also based on his origin. Miguel D’Agostino knew the PSG coach at Newell’s Old Boys in the early 90s. “They speak the same language,” says Guillem Balague.

“It’s a nucleus of four people who are one”

Jesus Perez was on the verge of leaving football after disappointing experiences when Pochettino brought him in to his side at Espanyol. “I will be forever grateful to him,” Perez says. As for Toni Jimenez, he never forgot Pochettino’s words of comfort at the end of the Copa del Rey 2000 final, when, then Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper, he made a terrible mistake of carelessness. which had contributed to the victory of Espanyol. Nine years later, Pochettino’s call to join him in his staff had particularly touched him.

“The strength of Pochettino is his staff, summarized Olivier Guégan in 2017 in France Football, after having also completed a training course at Tottenham. It is a nucleus of four people who are one. “

When it comes to decreeing the sacred union to face the challenges that will be theirs, PSG can certainly already count on the unity of a staff not quite like the others.