Zinedine Zidane 'Travels To Qatar To Finalise PSG Contract' With Mauricio Pochettino Set To Be Sacked
Zinedine Zidane is close to replacing Mauricio Pochettino as head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports.
Pochettino guided PSG to the Ligue 1 title in his first full season in charge at the Parc des Princes but his failure to beat Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League looks set to cost the former Tottenham boss his job.
According to Mundo Deportivo's Ramon Fuentes, PSG have already lined up former Madrid head coach Zidane to replace Pochettino.
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The French legend is said to be travelling to Qatar to finalise his contract with PSG's owners, with the deal expected to be formally completed on Saturday.
Zidane, 49, has been without a role since leaving Real Madrid at the end of the 2020-21 season.
During his time in charge at the Bernabeu, Zidane won La Liga twice and the Champions League three times.
He recently attended Real Madrid's victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final at the Stade de France, as the Spanish champions won a record-extending 14th European Cup.
Meanwhile, fans have speculated whether Pochettino has bid farewell to PSG supporters with a cryptic post on social media.
Pochettino took to Instagram to post a series of pictures from his playing days at the French club, accompanied by the caption: "Great memories."
Pochettino still has one year remaining on his contract at PSG and the Argentine remains relaxed about his future.
"I have another year left on my contract and there are lots of rumours. I've been sacked every week [according to the rumours/media], being at PSG brings with it that kind of thing," Pochettino told Catalan outlet Esport3.
"The club is trying to reinvent itself. The president [Nasser Al-Khelaifi] will soon explain his new project, but I am calm.
"To get to PSG you have to be a good manager, and after one and a half years I feel like one of the best. Managing a dressing room with that many stars has been a daily learning experience.
"We were so close to knocking out Real Madrid, as Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool were. I think we were far better, but we lacked that final touch. If the objective is to win the Champions League, it makes sense that that kind of [post-match] turmoil would take place.”
"The turmoil started after the defeat to Real Madrid. We won the league, as other managers did like [Laurent] Blanc and [Carlo] Ancelotti. I like Manchester City because they gave Pep Guardiola the chance to build.
"They gave him time. You need that at PSG too. By giving some serenity to the project, we’ll be close to winning the Champions League."
Topics: Mauricio Pochettino, Football, Zinedine Zidane, Ligue 1, PSG
Rory O'Callaghan