‘I’ll never coach Barcelona,’ says PSG boss Pochettino

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 11:39 BST
• 2 min read

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino has said that he will “never” manage Barcelona.

Having spent a portion of his playing career, Pochettino says it would be crossing a line to manage the Camp Nou outfit – indicating that he would also never take charge of PSG’s fierce rivals Marseille.

Pochettino had been linked with the Barcelona role before taking charge at PSG – as well as numerous other high-profile appointments around Europe – but he says it is a post he would not take.

“I’d never coach Barcelona,” he told RMC. “It’s not possible. I have this idea of life, a connection with a part of that city, that makes that impossible. Just as Marseille is also impossible for me.”

Pochettino is regarded as one of the finest coaches in the world, having previous taken charge of Espanyol, Southampton and Tottenham.

Although he was unable to win a single major trophy in these jobs, his first silverware arrived soon after joining up with PSG as he helped the club win the Trophee des Champions thanks to a victory over Marseille.

Meanwhile, Pochettino’s comments promise to add further spice to PSG’s forthcoming Champions League matches against Barcelona in the last 16.

In addition to the coach’s statement, PSG already have history with the Catalans, having famously thrown away a 4-0 first-leg advantage in the 2016/17 edition of the competition. Neymar was the catalyst to that turnaround for Barcelona, but the Brazilian will be on the opposing side on this occasion.

Pochettino, meanwhile, has effectively admitted that he is doubly determined that PSG can overcome Barca as they seek to emulate last term’s run to the final of the Champions League.