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Pochettino and glum PSG stars fly home from Manchester after City loss but will Man Utd target return in summer?


PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino and his star-studded squad flew back to France following their Champions League defeat to Manchester City.

Second half goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus handed Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-1 victory over the Ligue 1 leaders as they booked their place in the last 16 as group winners.

Pochettino gave a brief wave to those at the airport before flying back homeCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
The PSG man took the time to sign an autograph amid speculation over his futureCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
Mbappe was one of the PSG player snapped at the airportCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
Messi also boarded the flight after a disappointing trip to ManchesterCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

Pochettino was visiting Manchester for the first time since being heavily linked as the long-term successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

But the Argentine did not entertain any form of speculation at the airport as he signed an autograph before boarding the plane back to the French capital.

Scorer Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Sergio Ramos were all in attendance for the flight home as they wore disappointed looks following the defeat.

The loss leaves PSG four points behind Man City with just one round of Champions League fixtures remaining.

It means they are set to receive a difficult tie in the last 16 as they will be drawn against one of the eight group winners.

Meanwhile, rumours continue to swirl around Pochettino’s future at the club as talk of a Man Utd move ramps up.

Ramos was included in PSG’s squad for the game but was an unused substituteCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
Neymar looked totally dejected as he boarded the plane homeCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
Ex-Man Utd man Ander Herrera was another player snapped at the airportCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

The Red Devils have already had an approach for Pochettino knocked back by PSG and they are now prepared to wait until the summer before going in for him again.

The ex-Tottenham boss was spotted signing a Man Utd shirt ahead of PSG’s clash with City on Wednesday night.

But Poch insisted in the build-up to the game that he was not paying any attention to the speculation.

He said: “I’m not a child, I’ve spent my whole life playing football and spent 12 years as a coach – I know rumours will always be there.

“Sometimes positive and negative. But they cannot distract you. That’s football.

“We are focused 100 per cent to get the best result we can. So we can’t talk about that.

“I respect my club, PSG. What other clubs are doing is not my problem. I need to focus on PSG.

“I was a player here and love the club and fans. It’s a fantastic time to be at the club.

“Football is today, not tomorrow. Football is about results… two years ago, we left Tottenham and a few weeks before there were a lot of rumours about us and look what happened.


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“It’s about winning. It’s about the results. My contract is until 2023 – this season and one more. I don’t say anything different.

“I’m happy in Paris – that’s a fact. I’m happy in Paris.”

Man Utd have been linked with a number of managers to take charge until the end of the season including former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde and ex-Lyon coach Rudi Garcia.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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