Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that he is planning for next season as Paris Saint-Germain manager, despite reports suggesting that he will be sacked in the coming days.
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has been on thin ice since the Parisians' humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid back in March. Now RMC Sport claim that Pochettino is set to be relieved his duties and replaced by Zinedine Zidane, with star striker Kylian Mbappe' s new and groundbreaking three-year contract prompting an overhaul at the club.
However, the 50-year-old - at least publicly - expects to be in the dugout come the new term. PSG will begin their bid to defend their Ligue 1 title in August, having ended this domestic campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Metz in which Mbappe scored a hat-trick. Pochettino was asked about his future post-match and revealed: "I plan to rest for a few days and then resume contact with the club and work on next season."
Zidane is among the candidates to take over, having been out of work since leaving Real Madrid a year ago, while current Spurs manager Antonio Conte remains a potential option in a switch that could see Pochettino return to north London following his dismissal in November 2019.
Sporting director Leonardo is also set to be sacked by PSG, with the favourite to succeed him being ex- Monaco and Lille supremo Luis Campos, who has good relations with Mbappe's family.
Pochettino also gave his reaction to the big news of the day, having only found out Mbappe's decision minutes before the official announcement. "His extension is very important for the club and we are very happy. I have followed the negotiations since my arrival, a year and a half ago, there have been different phases," the Argentine said of the 23-year-old.
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"We are especially proud of its sporting evolution. When we arrived, he was a highly criticized player in France who could not always express his full potential, so I am very happy with his progress. His extension is the work of the president and a whole club and Kylian really identifies with the city."
While Saturday's triumph could prove to be Pochettino's final bow, Angel di Maria also waved goodbye to the Parc des Princes, with the 34-year-old's boss singing his praises. "Angel Di Maria, is one of the best players in the club's history," Pochettino added, with his compatriot set to join Juventus on a free transfer.
"He marked him by his playing skills but also by his great human values. His farewell is very moving for him and his family. We lived a day with a lot of emotions. There is a certain sadness when a player like Angel leaves the club, but it's football life and we are especially very happy to have been able to share these moments with him."
