Rafael van der Vaart predicts the resignation of Mauricio Pochettino as coach of Paris Saint-Germain. The elimination against Real Madrid in the Champions League will be fatal for the coach, thinks the analyst of Ziggo Sports† Van der Vaart sees a suitable successor to Pochettino in the clubless Zinedine Zidane.
Pochettino has failed to forge his team into a unity, says Van der Vaart. “We’ve said before that it’s really not a team. Zero point zero. It has fallen like a house of cards,” he concludes. “How much money do they spend? And they are out again.” The conclusion for Pochettino is clear, according to Van der Vaart. “This was simply his last game. You stand in front, there is nothing wrong, but you go out again. That’s how they see it. Those people with money think: we’ll throw it out and get a new one. The elimination is actually a shame.”
Van der Vaart thinks Pochettino is a ‘very good trainer’, but he doubts whether it is a good match with PSG. “I think Zidane is a suitable successor. I am not saying that Zidane is a great trainer, but with his appearance he makes sure that guests listen to him and want to go through the fire for him. For such teams that is the most important thing: there just has to be a nice guy who manages things. For example, Zidane has always trusted Benzema at Real Madrid. He called him the best striker there is. Then a player will walk through fire for you. Zidane has that at Real very well done.”
Pochettino has been PSG’s coach since January 2021. He replaced Thomas Tuchel and won both the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions, but had to leave the league title to Lille OSC. In the current season, PSG is at the top of France with great force majeure. That is the only prize PSG can still win this season, because the battle for the Trophée des Champions was lost to Lille, the eighth final was the final station in the cup tournament and the Champions League dream has also shattered. Zidane was Real’s coach between 2016 and 2018 and between 2019 and 2021. He has won the Champions League three times.
Last week sporting director Leonardo was asked about the coaching situation at PSG. “Pochettino still has a contract for one year (until June 2023, ed.). We honestly never thought of changing trainers,” he said. L’Equipe† “We never contacted Zinedine Zidane or anyone. Before coming here, Pochettino was one of the top five best trainers in the world and he still is.”