Mauricio Pochettino has been open about how he thinks about Neymar after their time together at PSG, according to Chelsea transfer news.
As preparations are made for his second summer in charge, Todd Boehly's desire to cap his Chelsea ownership with the arrival of a world-famous player still lingers. Despite Thomas Tuchel's apparent rejection of such a move, the owner's pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo ruined the first window.
As he begins to work with the new-look recruitment department this year, which includes Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping for more congruent thinking. The most recent links may lead to a potential reunion as he prepares for a hectic summer of big-ticket incomings and huge sales.
But Pochettino didn't exactly perform poorly at PSG. He was able to return the Parisiens to the top of the league after they had fallen behind under Thomas Tuchel, despite the fact that they had recently dominated the league. That required him to win 56 of his 84 games and average more than two goals per contest during that time.
The addition of Lionel Messi to his Harlem Globetrotters-style front-three with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe meant that his original principles had to be modified for a front-line that was unable to comply with his demands. Despite this, he continued to sing Neymar's praises.
With Neymar, it's so simple because you don't have to do anything, according to Pochettino, who was in charge at Parc des Princes. He has been eager to work from the start. He always listens intently and accepts all directions with grace. He is quite modest.
"Brazilian athletes possess a unique quality. They enjoy playing football because it is similar to dancing. They appear to be dancing while they play. When I played for PSG, Ronaldinho was my teammate, and Neymar is today. They must feel good and joyful in order to perform at their best.
The expected struggle for control of a star-studded changing room also took place. Lewandowski, Benzema, or Messi, was the question I was asked in an interview. I yelled, "Messi!" Pochettino cited this.
"Neymar approached me the following day and said, "So, so. In addition to reminding him of the question I had been asked and the fact that he wasn't even a possibility, I had to defend myself. We both then laughed.
Although intended to be humorous, it illustrates the problems Pochettino had in Ligue 1 with Neymar. It is unknown if, at the age of 31, he would be more amenable to him in England.
Following Lille's unexpected championship victory in his debut season as manager, he left the organization after less than two years in charge. He was also let go despite Lille finishing 15 points ahead of second-place Marseille in 2021–2022. He still maintains that there was a lot to love about working with such luminaries, despite the spell's undercurrent of regret and a sense of what might have been.
He remarked, "It was a fantastic experience for me. "Because they are so modest, they make your life easier. They have a lovely, accessible, and friendly demeanor. The way they treat you is incredible.
He continued, "It [PSG] was the experience we needed, the experience of engaging at the highest level of football and living with huge names. It was a struggle to try to make such a unique club function while being in a challenging position. There was too much greatness, so you have to continually adjust.
"Having Messi for Barcelona or Cristiano for Madrid is a blessing. There may be confusion, though, if there are too many players present who are competing for the top spot. When you play, there are 11 players and one ball. Who pays the penalty that was imposed? Not even the coach makes the choice.
One of the most severe critiques of his career to date, meanwhile, was directed at how he handled Neymar. Tite, the manager of Brazil at the time, was upset that Neymar was used as a winger at PSG rather than a central threat. The coach explained, "He's not a problem; he's a solution.
"They predict Neymar will make more errors while there. But because everything he does creatively there will be decisive, his position causes him to make more blunders.
"I will call a coach a donkey if he plays Neymar on the wing. It severely limits a player with these traits' creative potential.
It is contextual, contingent. Yes, he will make more errors since his innovative abilities are what are needed.
Neymar is receiving public praise, but Pochettino may not ultimately be willing to approve a deal for the 31-year-old to Chelsea.
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