Pochettino hopes to keep Mbappe at PSG but says focus is on title

Kylian Mbappe

Paris St Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino would love striker Kylian Mbappe to renew his contract at the French Ligue 1 side, but said yesterday that contract decisions would only be made after they achieve their goal of winning the league. The France forward stayed at PSG this season despite several offers from Spanish giants Real Madrid and has hit top form with 33 goals from 41 matches in all competitions. With the 23-year-old World Cup winner’s contract expiring in June, speculation in the media about a move has intensified in recent weeks but Pochettino said he was not affected. “You must adapt to every circumstance and personal situation involving players with regard to their club and contracts. On a selfish level, I’d like to keep him. And take him on a holiday with me, take him home,” Pochettino told reporters. “We would like him to renew and stay. That’s very obvious. It would be important for him to stay, but these decisions come down to the player, club and different parties.” Pochettino’s side are on the verge of a record-equalling 10th French title and can seal the deal today if they avoid defeat at the Parc des Princes against RC Lens. A title triumph will help PSG go level on 10 crowns with St Etienne, who claimed their trophies between 1957 and 1981, and the manager said the focus had to be on that target. “I understand that the decisions will come after we achieve our goal of winning the league,” Pochettino said. “It’s not just about Mbappe and the club. There are other individual cases. Talks will begin and decisions will be made when the target has been achieved and that is the best thing for the club and the players.” PSG’s season will ultimately be best remembered for their exit from the Champions League in the last 16 following a remarkable collapse against Real Madrid, but Pochettino’s side have been cruising towards the domestic title for months. They could have been confirmed as champions for a record-equalling 10th time in their history on Wednesday, when Mbappe scored as they defeated Angers 3-0 away. However, Marseille beat Nantes 3-2 at the same time and so PSG were forced to keep the celebratory champagne on ice. However, it remains to be seen how PSG supporters will respond to winning the league after certain elements of their fanbase opted to remain silent in recent home games in protest at the team’s European exit and at the club’s management. Having missed out to Lille for the title last year, PSG have never looked like being caught this time, but behind them there is a fierce battle being waged for European qualification. Marseille are six points clear of the chasing pack in second and are therefore well placed to take France’s only other automatic qualifying berth for next season’s Champions League. After that Rennes, Strasbourg and Monaco are all level on points with Nice two points further adrift and Lens another point back. Strasbourg beat Rennes in midweek to move level on points with the Brittany club, while Monaco defeated Cote d’Azur rivals Nice to claim a fifth straight win. The principality side are hoping to at least match last season’s third-place finish, which gives access to the Champions League third qualifying round. Fourth goes into the Europa League while fifth will play in next season’s Europa Conference League. Fixtures (times GMT)Today: Lyon v Montpellier (1500), Saint-Etienne v Monaco (1700), Paris Saint-Germain v Lens (1900)Tomorrow: Rennes v Lorient (1100), Clermont v Angers, Metz v Brest, Nantes v Bordeaux, Nice v Troyes (all 1300), Lille v Strasbourg (1505), Reims v Marseille (1845)