Following the free transfer signing of Lionel Messi, many well tabbed Paris Saint-Germain as the heavy favorites to win the UEFA Champions League competition this season.
Although there has been much talk of this campaign being a ‘Champions League or bust’ one for PSG, Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino does not necessarily agree with this notion.
In an interview with Ligue 1’s official website, Pochettino opened up on the expectations that have been placed on the French powerhouse to go on and win Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
“We arrived at the semifinal against Manchester City last season, and hope this season to arrive again, to be there, with the best teams in Europe,” Pochettino said. “But like I told you before, it is an obligation for many people around, yes, but for us we need to be a little bit far of that. We need to create our wish, our desire, to be there and to conquer this trophy.
“If we feel that it’s an obligation we start to put the limits, to put on the shoulder too much things that are not going to help in the end. That is why we need to live that history or experience wishing to win, not to feel like it is an obligation.”
PSG is off to a roller-coaster start in Champions League group stage play this season, especially as it has picked up a crucial home win over Manchester City but also finished with a draw result with RB Leipzig in the return match.
PSG will return to Champions League group stage play with an away fixture against Manchester City following the November international break.
