PSG have eyes on Rennes revenge, says Pochettino

Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino waves as he arrives for a training session at the Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris, yesterday. (AFP)

The French giants lost against their league rivals when they played on Oct 3 Even with a huge lead in Ligue 1 and the Champions League looming, Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino said yesterday his team has a basic motivation to beat Rennes – “revenge”. With Real Madrid visiting Parc des Princes on Tuesday, PSG kick off the weekend’s Ligue 1 action at home to Rennes on Friday night. It may be first against fifth, but the gulf is huge. PSG lead second-place Marseille by 13 points with 15 games to play. Rennes are a further six points back. But Rennes were the last team to beat PSG in the league, winning 2-0 way back on October 3. Pochettino said he wanted “sporting revenge” and taking it would be good for his team. “We need to play 100 per cent against a team that has beaten us,” Pochettino told a press conference. “The Champions League game is important but the most important is to give 100 per cent tomorrow.” PSG crushed reigning champions Lille 5-1 last Sunday. Pochettino wants to maintain that form in their first home game since the latest round of Covid attendance restrictions were lifted on February 2. “Football is a game of emotions, when you have created those positive emotions it is much easier to prepare for and perform in the next game,” Pochettino said. “The healthiest way to prepare for the Champions League game is to win tomorrow.” PSG are on course to win their domestic league for an eighth time in 10 seasons, but the best they have done in the Champions League is reach the final, once. “It’s a competition everyone at this club dreams of,” Pochettino said. Pochettino is easing several players back from injury. Neymar and Sergio Ramos both trained yesterday but will not play today. Neymar sprained his left ankle in late November. “His progress is very good,” said Pochettino. Since his arrival in 2017, Neymar has missed five of his team’s eight Champions League last 16 appearances due to various injuries, including the double-header against Barcelona last season. “All the great players want to play the big games. He has the experience and maturity to manage himself, and channel his energy, to arrive in the best conditions when he can play,” said Pochettino. Nice, who slipped to third after losing at home to lowly Clermont last weekend, face Lyon. Lyon might only be eighth but club president Jean-Michel Aulas made clear on Wednesday that he views the top three and a Champions league spot as their target. “To finish on the podium we need to win.” he said on Wednesday. PSG will rest Abdou Diallo and Idrissa Gana Gueye, but elsewhere players who helped Senegal win a first Africa Cup of Nations could return. Fixtures (GMT) Today: Paris Saint-Germain v Rennes (2000) Tomorrow: Montpellier v Lille (1600), Lyon v Nice (2000) Sunday: Monaco v Lorient (1200), Nantes v Reims, Clermont v Saint-Etienne, Brest v Troyes, Angers v Strasbourg (all 1400), Lens v Bordeaux (1605), Metz v Marseille (1945)