Even if he considers that his PSG was “better” than Nice this Monday evening in the Coupe de France, Mauricio Pochettino concedes that his players lacked creativity in front of goal to create chances and make the difference before the penalty shootout on goal lost (0-0, 5-6 pens). A “lottery” according to the Argentinian technician, who does not blame the last shooter, the young Xavi Simons.
How was the choice of shooters made? Why Xavi Simons, 18, shot before internationals like Kimpembe, Danilo or Kehrer?
Mauricio Pochettino. The decision of the first five shooters, we decided it before the session between us. We thought we could win before the first five shooters were out. Then the decision is taken by feeling by the players. Xavi (Simons) was not my decision.
How did he feel after that shot on goal?
I had absolute confidence in him like any player. If he is on the team, he has the same right as the others to shoot. He is disappointed like everyone else because we are eliminated.
Does this elimination have consequences for the end of the PSG season?
I do not know. What consequences are we talking about?
Why did Kylian Mbappé start on the bench?
He suffered from discomfort during the last days. The decision was made not to start him and to play him for 30 to 45 minutes maximum.
How do you rate the performance of your team?
We were better than Nice overall. We deserved to pass. We didn’t create enough chances to score goals and win this game before the penalties. We should have been more efficient in the last meters. Then it’s a lottery. Like last year when we qualified against Montpellier in this competition.
Are you also disappointed and frustrated with your team’s play tonight?
It’s not just a question of the relationship between the lines. It’s a question of balance, as we’ve been talking about for a long time. How to find solutions when faced with a team that has tight lines? We must find faster solutions, without a doubt.
Can you bring out positive things after a loss like this?
It’s an elimination. It’s hard to come out positive. In this type of competition, everything is different. Even if we were better, we didn’t do what was necessary to win the match. We didn’t have the necessary luck on penalties like last year. We must remain optimistic: we still have Ligue 1 and the Champions League as objectives.