Mauricio Pochettino says there is ‘still a lot we have to correct’ despite winning his first match as PSG boss to go within one point of leaders Lyon
- PSG ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against Brest to close gap on the leaders
- It was Mauricio Pochettino’s second game in charge after St. Etienne draw
- Kylian Mbappe hasn’t found the back of the net in three of his last four matches
- Pochettino can win Trophee des Champions against Marseille on Wednesday
New Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino says there is still plenty to improve on, despite winning his first match in the French capital since taking over last weekend.
PSG ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against Brest yesterday, which took them within one point of Ligue Un leaders Lyon after they drew 2-2 with Rennes.
It was another game without finding the back of the net for Kylian Mbappe though – the joint-leading goalscorer in the league now without a goal in three of his past four games.
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino took over from Thomas Tuchel on the 2nd of January
On-loan Everton striker Moise Kean scored for the third game in a row, before second-half substitutes Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia completed the easy victory.
The win came three days after the side’s 1-1 draw with Saint Ettienne.
‘We are satisfied with the result, it is the fruit of the effort of all the players,’ he told Canal+.
‘But there is still a lot we have to correct. We must continue to work with high standards.’
The form of Neymar and Mbappe will be pivotal to the success of Pochettino’s tenure at PSG, and while it was another game without a goal for a visibly frustrated Mbappe, Pochettino has no concerns.
‘Mbappe has done good things,’ Pochettino said. ‘He had chances and it’s a shame he didn’t score. But he had a good game.’
Moise Kean scored for the third game in a row – his opener was his 11th goal of the season
Mbappe provided the assist for Sarabia, who scored his third goal of the season. The Spaniard is happy with what he’s seen from Pochettino’s approach so far.
‘He wants us to have a lot of the ball and to knock the ball a lot to destabilise the opponent,’ he said.
‘He asks us to do a lot of pressing, very high. It is very important to capture all the ideas of the coach to try to do the best possible.
‘There are things that are similar between Tuchel and Pochettino but there are things that are very different. We have to work because there are a lot of things that are new.’
Pochettino can already secure his first piece of silverware when the side face Marseille in the Trophee des Champions on Wednesday.
Kylian Mbappe assisted Pablo Sarabia, but has failed to score in three of his past four games