🧠 What will Mauricio Pochettino's PSG look like? | OneFootball

After more than a year out of the managerial hotseat, Mauricio Pochettino is the new manager of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentine is blessed with an embarrassment of riches in the French capital, especially offensively, but how will he set PSG up?

The 4-2-3-1

Pochettino stuck with a 4-2-3-1 for the majority of Pochettino’s time at the club, especially in his first years in north London. Could he do the same?

Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembélé; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane

This team was full of energy, with the fullbacks playing incredibly aggressively. Mousa Dembélé was the key in midfield, while Dele Alli would provide a huge goal threat as Christian Eriksen drifted inside as the side’s chief creator.

How PSG could play it:

Dele Alli, anyone? The PSG squad doesn’t have a natural fit for that role and Spurs seem to want rid of the attacking midfielder. Would Pochettino fancy a reunion?

If so, he could be a missing piece to this midfield puzzle. Verratti and Gueye provide the tenacity Pochettino will want in midfield, with Verratti also superb in possession, and there’s enough pace across the frontline for PSG to go full throttle.

Three at the back

How Spurs played it:

Lloris; Alderweireld, Sánchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Dembélé, Dier, Davies; Eriksen, Alli; Kane

With wingbacks injured or struggling for form (Rose) and sold (Walker), Pochettino had two slower options. He made up for it by pushing them further upfield to begin with. Eriksen had a free role and even sometimes played deeper, once again the orchestrator of the side.

How PSG could play it:

Assuming Eriksen doesn’t join the Parisians – and he yet could – Ángel di María is the most natural fit for the role at Pochettino’s disposal.

That should free up Mbappé and Neymar to play as freely as they like up front, interchanging at will, and maybe take some of the defensive burden off them, though their new boss will insist that they press high and press hard.

Herrera and Paredes are further options in midfield that Pochettino will like.

Diamond

How Spurs played it:

Lloris; Trippier, Sánchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen; Alli; Kane, Son.

Looking to get his most dangerous attacking threats down the centre and improve the team’s pressing, Pochettino did switch to a diamond more often in his final seasons, with the midfield three providing a real mix: one tidy on the ball, one with superb athleticism, and one true playmaker.

How PSG could play it:

Let’s assume Pochettino wants to use Moise Kean or Mauro Icardi, and doesn’t manage to (or want to?) get Alli or Eriksen in on loan, and PSG could line up something like this.

Neymar in a free role behind two strikers looks tempting and Herrera or Gueye on one side of the diamond would allow one aggressive wingback, while di María could drift wide on the other side.

Whatever the Argentina ends up doing in Paris, it should be very exciting.