Mauricio Pochettino and Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappe has insisted Paris Saint-Germain lost the fear factor under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine, 50, has reportedly been sacked but the club is yet to make an official announcement as they finalise the terms of compensation for his departure.
PSG won the Ligue 1 title by 15 points but doubts remained about Pochettino in the French capital after a Champions League collapse in March against eventual champions Real Madrid.
The French giants gave up a two-goal advantage as an 18-minute Karim Benzema hat-trick in Spain saw them crash out 3-2 on aggregate in the competition the hierarchy are desperate to win above all others.
And Mbappe has told BFMTV that the side had been less ‘fearsome’ and ‘untouchable’ under the former Tottenham and Southampton boss, in an apparent criticism of Pochettino’s tactics.
He said: “This past season we weren’t as fearsome, we were far less untouchable. We want to go back to being intimidating in France, something we have not done these past two years.”
The 23-year-old, one of the best players in world football, signed a new three-year contract extension to reportedly make him the highest-paid player in the world. Part of that deal is said to include a say on which players and managers stay or go.
And Mbappe admitted European glory was the ultimate goal for the players and whichever new manager comes in.
He added: “Of course, the Champions League is the goal. This is the clear and announced objective. We don’t need to list many more adjectives regarding the Champions League. That’s what we want.”