Mbappé, Pochettino ‘100%’ remaining at PSG

Paris, Apr 28 (EFE).- Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino was adamant Thursday that he and highly prized striker Kylian Mbappé would remain at the club next season.

Mbappé, 22, has been widely tipped to join Real Madrid when his current contract expires in June.

When asked about the chances of both he and the striker being at the club beyond the end of this season, Pochettino replied: “One hundred percent”.

“It’s what I feel, what I perceive. In soccer, you never know what can happen, but I respond thinking about what I feel,” the Argentine coach added.

Several media reports have indicated that Pochettino will be let go as the club’s Qatari owners were not satisfied with the team’s performance in their elimination in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Real Madrid.

But Pochettino insisted that he has not discussed the future with the management and that he goes about his job “naturally” thinking “in the present, but also in the future”.

“We have an experience now that is important if we know how to capitalize on it. There are many things we have learned in this year and a half that are not perceived from the outside. Everything will be passed on to the leaders in order to improve,” he said.

He added that now that they have been confirmed as Ligue 1 champions, the players will try to help Mbappé to finish as top scorer in the French championship.

Pochettino praised Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has also previously coached PSG and could be crowned La Liga champions this weekend.

“I have the greatest respect for Carlo, a great coach and a great human being. I am delighted that people like him are doing well in soccer,” he said. EFE

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