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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) boss Mauricio Pochettino is a much sought-after manager. The Argentinean is currently on a mission to lead the Parisians to their maiden UEFA Champions League triumph. However, rumours surrounding his long-term future at the club continue to make the rounds, with Manchester United reportedly interested in securing his services.
However, with PSG holding a narrow 1-0 advantage after the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid, Pochettino has more pressing matters to deal with first. The Parisians are also top of the Ligue 1 table, holding a commanding 13-point lead over second-placed Marseille after 24 games.
Mauricio Pochettino made his name in England
Although he currently occupies one of the most high-profile jobs in world football, Mauricio Pochettino began his managerial career with unfancied Espanyol in Spain. However, the Argentinean truly caught the eye in England with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.
His five-year spell in London with Spurs remains the longest tenure of his coaching career so far. His reign lasted 293 games, and peaked with a trip to the 2019 Champions League final, which unfortunately ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
As PSG celebrate their hard-fought win over Real Madrid, we take a look at five players who have performed exceptionally under Mauricio Pochettino:
Honourable mentions: Neymar, Erik Lamela, Dele Alli, Lucas Moura.
#5 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi barely makes it onto our list, thanks to his pedigree and plethora of past achievements. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner is enduring a nightmarish debut season in Paris, and has been well below his usual standards.
The Argentinean magician is arguably the greatest player of all time. Nonetheless, life in France has been anything but easy for the former Barcelona superstar.
Mauricio Pochettino is yet to get the best out of his illustrious compatriot. With seven goals and eight assists in 21 appearances, Messi's misery was further compounded by a listless display against familiar foes Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
The playmaker missed a penalty, and failed to influence proceedings but will look to redeem himself in the second leg.
#4 Kylian Mbappe
There is considerable debate around whether Mauricio Pochettino is the right coach to bring the best out of the trio of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. While the Brazilian continues to battle injury issues, and Messi struggles to find form, Mbappe has been nothing short of sensational.
The Frenchman has played 61 games since Pochettino took over in January last year. Mbappe has found the net 50 times while providing 23 assists in this period. He has been instrumental in helping PSG win the French Cup and the French Super Cup, the first pieces of silverware in Pochettino's managerial career.
Mbappe also scored a dramatic late winner against Real Madrid on Wednesday night in the Champions League. Mauricio Pochettino and co. now have something to defend when they visit the Santiago Bernabeu for next month's second leg.
#3 Son Heung-min
The best work of Mauricio Pochettino's coaching career so far has come at Tottenham Hotspur. In 2015, a year after joining Spurs, the Argentinean coach signed South Korean winger Son Heung-min from Bayer Leverkusen for £27 million.
It proved to be a fabulous piece of business. Son, who was 23 at the time, would go on to become one of the best attackers in English football. He played 203 games under Pochettino, scoring 75 times and assisting 39 goals.
The winger was named Spurs' Player of the Year for successive seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20). He also won a Puskas award for his solo goal against Burnley.
#2 Christian Eriksen
Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen is Pochettino's most capped player, having made 255 appearances under the Argentinean manager. Signed from Ajax for just under £13 million in 2013, Eriksen evolved into one of the finest midfielders in English football under Pochettino.
The attacking midfielder recorded 58 goals and 76 assists during Pochettino's time at Spurs. After the manager's sacking in November 2019, Eriksen also left the club a few months later.
#1 Harry Kane
It is hardly surprising to see Tottenham Hotspur's talisman and superstar striker Harry Kane at the top of our list. A product of Spurs' academy, the England captain received his first real opportunity at his boyhood club under Mauricio Pochettino.
After a couple of underwhelming loan spells at Norwich City and Leicester City, Kane was short of confidence. However, Pochettino showed faith and belief in the young forward, and was quickly rewarded. Kane announced his arrival on the big stage by scoring 21 league goals in 2014-15, which was Pochettino's first season at the club.
In the five full seasons they spent together, Kane scored over 20 league goals four times, including a stunning return of 30 strikes in the 2017-18 campaign. By the time Pochettino was sacked in 2019, the Englishman had scored 169 goals to go with 30 assists in 242 games, and was the most feared striker in England.
Unfortunately, the duo never won a trophy together. However, Harry Kane remains Mauricio Pochettino's greatest success, and has acknowledged the Argentinean's role in crafting him into one of the best players in the world.
