Rio Ferdinand has launched a staunch defence of Mauricio Pochettino and believes he is not to blame for Paris Saint-Germain's latest exit from the Champions League.
A stunning 17-minute second-half hat-trick from Karim Benzema saw Real Madrid overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to qualify for the last eight of the competition at the French giants' expense.
It means PSG's quest for a maiden Champions League title will go on for at least another season, with their appearance in the 2020 final against eventual winners Bayern Munich still their best finish.
Pochettino however is facing the sack following their implosion at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Le Parisien reporting he and sporting director Leonardo will both pay the price for the defeat.
This week however marked the five-year anniversary of PSG losing 6-1 to Barcelona having led 4-0 from the first leg under Unai Emery, just one of the examples under previous managers of the French giants capitulating in Europe.
And ex-United centre-back Ferdinand therefore believes Pochettino cannot be blamed given their recent history in the competition.
Asked whether criticism of former Tottenham boss was fair, 2008 Champions League winner Ferdinand told BT Sport: 'I don't think so given the history at PSG.
'Many managers have been there now and won the league and failed in the Champions League.
'We saw today how the team folded, and this isn't just a one season episode, this is something that continually happens every single year where you go, ''do you know what, PSG with the talent they've got, especially in attacking areas, with the experience that they've got, an array of international big players they've got, they're gonna have a chance of winning it''.
'And they fall at the quarter-final, semi-final hurdles, they've lost in the final. This is something that just happens. [It is a] dysfunctional team, I think that sums it up quite well about the way that they play.
'So I don't think you can really point the finger too much at Pochettino when this has happened season after season.'
Ferdinand also insisted PSG are hamstrung by the fact they are 'carrying' attacking trio and Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, while 'massive egos' have also played their part in ensuring they come up short on the continent.
'I think it's up to the manager to create that culture (where they don't panic),' Ferdinand added. 'But also this team, there have been massive egos, which is part of managing big clubs, and there are players that are genuine superstars.
'You've got Mbappe, you've got Neymar, you've got Messi now in this team playing upfront. And each of those players are players that you would probably allow as a one-off in your team to be a passenger and you all work for that player.
'To have three of them, makes it near on impossible to do it at the top level. You can do it and get away with it in the French league like they do every year, they win the league.
'But at this level, to carry three players that aren't gonna be able to work to the intensity that you probably need to win a tournament like the Champions League is very, very, very difficult.'
Ex-Real Madrid forward Michael Owen meanwhile labelled PSG 'soft' and said his former club demonstrated during their 'Galactico' signing era that Champions League glory is not guaranteed by signing global superstars alone.
'If you've got the same things happening every year, and it's a different manager every year, then I find it hard to say that manager's [not good enough],' Owen said.
'That team is like that. I've stood on here a couple of weeks ago and said Paris St-Germain will not win the Champions League, because they're soft and they always have been soft, for five, six, seven years.
'People get carried away and say, ''look at all those players, they're gonna win the Champions League''. It's virtually impossible to do it.
'Real Madrid proved that years and years ago, get all the best players in the world and you think you're gonna win it. It doesn't happen like that, it's much more about team work.'
LMLIV
0
I get that you’re hurt about all trolls messi is receiving that’s why you keep posting on every post trolling messi. Don’t worry take hearts bro, it will pass but what wouldn’t pass is the fact that messi is finished 😂😂😂. Last 9 games against madrid even in the bernabeu 0 goals 0 assist. He finished
You know better . It’s it really pass ?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅🤣😅
Olamideey7
0
Good to see that Eibarlite fans can actually speak when Leo is present. We thought you guys suffers from selective Mutism .🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Any ways happy Independence Day . Is it 9th ? ! Since the brutal , inhumane and humiliating colonialism of Bernabau by Leo. 🤣🤣🤣🤣😅🤣😅😅
I get that you’re hurt about all trolls messi is receiving that’s why you keep posting on every post trolling messi. Don’t worry take hearts bro, it will pass but what wouldn’t pass is the fact that messi is finished 😂😂😂. Last 9 games against madrid even in the bernabeu 0 goals 0 assist. He finished
puceimopz
0
Man city is crashing out soon.. Save my comment. Guadiola will never win champions league in England unless Klopp and Tuchel leave England
Mark my word. Manchester City will win the Champions League and the EPL.In God we trust.
ankitttttttttrtr
0
No tru , Messi was below per yesterday tbh. I can’t deny that , but still it takes a great team work for the success of the team
In the first leg it was great team work by psg and Messi didn’t had that impact either
ankitttttttttrtr
0
No tru , Messi was below per yesterday tbh. I can’t deny that , but still it takes a great team work for the success of the team
Bro in both leg. In the first leg he was even more pathetic where almost all psg players dominated and he didn’t had the imapct and missed a penalty. I mean dont know why messi is defended so much
mueabcsy
0
Messi is great , Ronaldo is great - its always other fault and they are always the best - I think that is the only mantra for many fans here - never accept their favourite player is not good enough
No tru , Messi was below per yesterday tbh. I can’t deny that , but still it takes a great team work for the success of the team
ankitttttttttrtr
0
That’s not true bro… if you watch the midfield , they only control the midfield whenever Messi comes deeper , and when he drops in , he starts the attack by launching the ball to either mbappe or Neymar … This team are not playing as one , and the coach tactics last night was poor , he was going to use same tired players for 90mins. Madrid brought in 4 players in the 60 mins which eventually change there game , poch only wait to concede 2 goals before just one sub. And after the 3rd goal he brought in more players …. He doesn’t have sense … Nuni mendes was completely tired and likewise Hakimi
Messi is great , Ronaldo is great - its always other fault and they are always the best - I think that is the only mantra for many fans here - never accept their favourite player is not good enough
LMLIV
0
He should go back to his caves, and enjoy his exit from the champions league in the hands of madrid. A failure messi is, bought to win te champions league for them only to ghost over two legs and miss their crucial penalty. He is finished as a player, mls may be better for him
Good to see that Eibarlite fans can actually speak when Leo is present. We thought you guys suffers from selective Mutism .🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Any ways happy Independence Day . Is it 9th ? ! Since the brutal , inhumane and humiliating colonialism of Bernabau by Leo. 🤣🤣🤣🤣😅🤣😅😅
mueabcsy
0
Bro messi was purely avg. i mean i dont get why messi this cushion? What attempt or attack even he did apart from one chip in the first half? He comes so deep for no reason. Dont tell me psg midfield is poor as they dominated the game for 60mins and first leg
That’s not true bro… if you watch the midfield , they only control the midfield whenever Messi comes deeper , and when he drops in , he starts the attack by launching the ball to either mbappe or Neymar … This team are not playing as one , and the coach tactics last night was poor , he was going to use same tired players for 90mins. Madrid brought in 4 players in the 60 mins which eventually change there game , poch only wait to concede 2 goals before just one sub. And after the 3rd goal he brought in more players …. He doesn’t have sense … Nuni mendes was completely tired and likewise Hakimi
themainman
0
Well that's your opinion and fair enough, Real Madrid have an exceptional midfield. But I would also say that Verratti is arguably one of the best players at PSG this season. He deserves his due credit. Sadly he's being overlooked in favour of overhyped players like Messi, Neymar, Hakimi, etc
you are correct
kg-4991
0
the galecticos never played nor functioned like a team especially after they added beckam . if you think winning games 5-3 ,4-3,3-2 is a recepie for success they you my friend don't know football. everyone in that Madrid team was doing their own thing . you had 3 guys in zidane, Figo and Ronaldo who had won footballer of the year saldado and Carlos were basically wingers the only guys that defended were hiaro claud makhelele and forgot the other centre back that was that
And before Ronaldo N, Beckham and few others
kg-4991
0
the galecticos never played nor functioned like a team especially after they added beckam . if you think winning games 5-3 ,4-3,3-2 is a recepie for success they you my friend don't know football. everyone in that Madrid team was doing their own thing . you had 3 guys in zidane, Figo and Ronaldo who had won footballer of the year saldado and Carlos were basically wingers the only guys that defended were hiaro claud makhelele and forgot the other centre back that was that
I was talking about C. Ronaldo, Bale, Kroos and Modric
JusAKoolGuy
0
You are funny you know.... None of the two coaches you mentioned now can't match him tactically and in everything.. Mind you in as much as Pep is still at Manchester City none of the two managers you mentioned will not touch the EPL trophy again.
None of them can't match him tactically? Dude you sound kind of dumb🤔, None of the coaches mentioned can't touch Epl trophy, lmfao and if you can say that, then it's fair to say Man City won't touch the UCL trophy😂
Andy_Mac
0
some clowns were saying Veratti is the best midfielder in the world (just because he got the better of Kroos, Modric and Casemiro in 1 game)... don't get me wrong, Veratti is a great player, but no one should ever compare him to any real madrid midfielder. ..NEVER.
Well that's your opinion and fair enough, Real Madrid have an exceptional midfield. But I would also say that Verratti is arguably one of the best players at PSG this season. He deserves his due credit. Sadly he's being overlooked in favour of overhyped players like Messi, Neymar, Hakimi, etc
Andy_Mac
0
The haters only creating egos to players ,messi is try to provide assists to mbappe ,but due to haters troll of "messi is not scoring " he is trying to score himself
You're absolutely correct. Messi was never trolled before this season. That's why he was constantly performing. He had no haters and critics before that. [Crylaugh]
Andy_Mac
0
Bro messi was purely avg. i mean i dont get why messi this cushion? What attempt or attack even he did apart from one chip in the first half? He comes so deep for no reason. Dont tell me psg midfield is poor as they dominated the game for 60mins and first leg
Messi always seems to be protected no matter what. He was underwhelming and doesn't deserve any credit. The likes of Verratti, Danilo and Paredes were much better imo
domimino
2
messi has dropped from world class to a team he should be starting for example...Portsmouth, or even Peterborough
domimino
0
not wrong Rio
Andile1986
0
If he subbed Messi and Neymar off people will still blame him
if he subbed one of them at 2 nill up and got on another midfielder they would have one the game playing on the counter with mbappes pace . mbappe was giving them nightmares
Andile1986
0
Neymar was the best player better than most players in that team .. even better than messi ..
then sub Messi and get another midfielder on the pitch so you can press and dictate tempo . play on the counter. not this 4-3-3 with no one pressing whilst you 2 nill up infact if I had another center back I'd move to a back 5
Mangisha
3
It's TEAMWORK for sure. No matter how many good players your team gat, if they don't play as a team, for each other, they can't win. And this is the problem this PSG have. Just look at the defenders. They all want to attack. They want to make a name for themselves. Am not singling out Messi, but watch that game and many other PSG games and he will see they rarely pass to him. Look at the Barca that dominated football all those years. Look at the Ronaldo RM. Those teams won bcos the other players had to play for "one player", they had to sacrifice their own "importance" for the importance of that one player. Mbappe is the that important player for PSG. But the problem is that he tends to be all individual most of the times. Bcos even that one important player needs to knw the importance of the other players. What am saying is, you can't win trophies, important ones, if you don't play at a team.
Andile1986
0
It's not the superstars that won UCL for Madrid. It's the team that won. Having superstars doesn't guarantee anything. It's the ability to fuse the superstars into a solid team that guarantees victories
the galecticos never played nor functioned like a team especially after they added beckam . if you think winning games 5-3 ,4-3,3-2 is a recepie for success they you my friend don't know football. everyone in that Madrid team was doing their own thing . you had 3 guys in zidane, Figo and Ronaldo who had won footballer of the year saldado and Carlos were basically wingers the only guys that defended were hiaro claud makhelele and forgot the other centre back that was that
medbeimr
0
They will try to blame the manager
They will blame him rubbish coach
Olamideey7
1
So ?
He should go back to his caves, and enjoy his exit from the champions league in the hands of madrid. A failure messi is, bought to win te champions league for them only to ghost over two legs and miss their crucial penalty. He is finished as a player, mls may be better for him
Olamideey7
0
it's always the coaches 💔😔
Like? Is it the coach that passsed the ball to benzema to score? I don’t think there’s any more poch can do in such circumstances
Olamideey7
0
PSG COACH SHOULD IMPOSED THOSE PLAYERS WHO ARE WEAK OR LOW AGGRESSIVE ON THE PITCH SHOULD BE BENCH
No
Vendiknprt
0
so much crap football will continue they will win the champiosn league ,just luck isnt helping psg for now ,tell me if madrid deserved to win hell no,it was 15 minutes of bad luck for psg they had madrid running to the ball lost ,both games they even made madrid look terrible but a fewe istractions and luck for madrid and its over ,thats why football is full of sht never the best team wins madrid never deserve to advance ,and a reminder that was a foul from benzema on donurama
blind eye and poor mentality set• You need to buy eyes class to understand that you need more than talents to succeed in life• You need good mentality• Neymar and Messi forgot consistent mentality in Barcelona
Trippyfc
0
Who born Zidan not to use Messi and Neymar in important matches involving his team against city, Chelsea, Bacelona, Liverpool or Real Madrid? can klop bench sallah against city ?
You should have an account so we can engage in discussion. you think Zidane is desperate for the job,he could add it in his demands and if psg don't comply he can simply not take the job,Zidane is a legend as a player and also a coach, psg should be on their knees begging him to take the job, money can't buy class and Zidane has lots of class.
Vendiknprt
0
That's what I am saying, how can the coach work with so many egos,and I also think the hierarchy of the club manages things in the background,normally messi isn't supposed to play all those games because of his age,but if he doesn't play they blame the coach, he doesn't press nor make forward runs,modern football requires pressing from top level players,neymar it seems is really having problems mentally,well they can sack poch since they feel it's Zidane that will take them where they want to be, some would be surprised that Zidane would not even use messi or neymar maybe he won't even take the job cause of them.
Who born Zidan not to use Messi and Neymar in important matches involving his team against city, Chelsea, Bacelona, Liverpool or Real Madrid? can klop bench sallah against city ?
Vendiknprt
0
super stars alone don't win trophies. a sample of real Madrid galacticos shows that but they were better compared to this present Paris. they hAve had soft coaches or managers. they need a manager with a firm resolve to co-ordinate the team. Kudos Madrid
Tell me which manager will have Messi, Neymar and mbappe and will not play them in important matches, rather than blaming the managers,why not players Ego. Chelsea coach Tuchel proves otherwise last year even against Almighty pep Gurdiola.
Kiuabmory
1
you 100% correct Rio. how annoying to see how this people always gambled with the ball at their box even when under pressure to clear the ball, of all the goalkeepers in this world I can only be confident with back passes to the like of Manchester city goalkeeper only ( Ederson )
yozbdklmrz
1
They will try to blame the manager
voaaeostuy
0
You are funny you know.... None of the two coaches you mentioned now can't match him tactically and in everything.. Mind you in as much as Pep is still at Manchester City none of the two managers you mentioned will not touch the EPL trophy again.
klop dont care much about EPL its normal league we talk about who conquers europe and the world... [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Zanbcekrz
1
super stars alone don't win trophies. a sample of real Madrid galacticos shows that but they were better compared to this present Paris. they hAve had soft coaches or managers. they need a manager with a firm resolve to co-ordinate the team. Kudos Madrid
Ceheknrs
0
Man city is crashing out soon.. Save my comment. Guadiola will never win champions league in England unless Klopp and Tuchel leave England
You are funny you know.... None of the two coaches you mentioned now can't match him tactically and in everything.. Mind you in as much as Pep is still at Manchester City none of the two managers you mentioned will not touch the EPL trophy again.
Trippyfc
4
That's what I am saying, how can the coach work with so many egos,and I also think the hierarchy of the club manages things in the background,normally messi isn't supposed to play all those games because of his age,but if he doesn't play they blame the coach, he doesn't press nor make forward runs,modern football requires pressing from top level players,neymar it seems is really having problems mentally,well they can sack poch since they feel it's Zidane that will take them where they want to be, some would be surprised that Zidane would not even use messi or neymar maybe he won't even take the job cause of them.
mazikin222
0
inflated ego sure was a problem, Messi was decent dispite the fact that PSG choose to attack mostly using mbappe and neymar, verrati was careless, kempepe and marquihoes, lacked focus, neymar was useless, mbappe was way over his own head.
dominated the game yes but their were to many errors, Messi operated from a deep role limiting his impact, his performance average, the attack outlet was neymar/mbappe and ney was more than poor.
fooking-idiot
0
so much crap football will continue they will win the champiosn league ,just luck isnt helping psg for now ,tell me if madrid deserved to win hell no,it was 15 minutes of bad luck for psg they had madrid running to the ball lost ,both games they even made madrid look terrible but a fewe istractions and luck for madrid and its over ,thats why football is full of sht never the best team wins madrid never deserve to advance ,and a reminder that was a foul from benzema on donurama
stick to watching europa league
Aman1997
0
The haters only creating egos to players ,messi is try to provide assists to mbappe ,but due to haters troll of "messi is not scoring " he is trying to score himself
he missed the simplest chance to score over the two legs, the penalty! 😀🤣🤣🤣
mankindT
0
I don't even expected PSG signing pochettino as your coach. the former coach you sack is better than pochettino in every way. pochettino coaching and tactics not that good even when he was in former club. I don't even know what wrong with some club management, sacking a coach which have won you everything and even taking you to champion league final and went for pochettino who never won anything during his coaching career
do you expect PSG to go beyond this stage.... check UCL history... check the break down..
mankindT
1
PSG defeat in this stage of UCL is not a News.. rather Madrid winning a News... Go and check champions League profile and figure it out... Hala Madrid
midaipsu
2
out pocetteno.. In zidane
taualopst
1
so much crap football will continue they will win the champiosn league ,just luck isnt helping psg for now ,tell me if madrid deserved to win hell no,it was 15 minutes of bad luck for psg they had madrid running to the ball lost ,both games they even made madrid look terrible but a fewe istractions and luck for madrid and its over ,thats why football is full of sht never the best team wins madrid never deserve to advance ,and a reminder that was a foul from benzema on donurama
hey man you should have watched the match properly before talking here Madrid should scored 5-6 goals they made so mane chances in the second half
ankitttttttttrtr
0
The problem is that They keep tye ball always on the Left wing and is keen on backpassing to GOALKEEPER, Bezema took this advantage and Donnarumma clearly underrated one of the Best 9 in the world. Second problem is that PSG players keeps a lot of spaces between them and they can't play possesion, especially very poor in maintaining possesion in tight spaces not like Real Madrid which is very good at maintaining the ball in possesion. Thirdly the Goalkeeper, Neymar were poor. In the second half I haven't seen any play making on right wing.. poor defending.. 😕
Bro they keep ball in left because messi was doing nothing on right. 😂
ankitttttttttrtr
1
The haters only creating egos to players ,messi is try to provide assists to mbappe ,but due to haters troll of "messi is not scoring " he is trying to score himself
Bro ask messi to score - only mbappe does it. No one asked messi to come deep. Its always the excuse the reason why he is not scoring.
SRAAA
1
so much crap football will continue they will win the champiosn league ,just luck isnt helping psg for now ,tell me if madrid deserved to win hell no,it was 15 minutes of bad luck for psg they had madrid running to the ball lost ,both games they even made madrid look terrible but a fewe istractions and luck for madrid and its over ,thats why football is full of sht never the best team wins madrid never deserve to advance ,and a reminder that was a foul from benzema on donurama
Cry ueropalona
ankitttttttttrtr
2
inflated ego sure was a problem, Messi was decent dispite the fact that PSG choose to attack mostly using mbappe and neymar, verrati was careless, kempepe and marquihoes, lacked focus, neymar was useless, mbappe was way over his own head.
Bro messi was purely avg. i mean i dont get why messi this cushion? What attempt or attack even he did apart from one chip in the first half? He comes so deep for no reason. Dont tell me psg midfield is poor as they dominated the game for 60mins and first leg
kooclmsuz
2
so much crap football will continue they will win the champiosn league ,just luck isnt helping psg for now ,tell me if madrid deserved to win hell no,it was 15 minutes of bad luck for psg they had madrid running to the ball lost ,both games they even made madrid look terrible but a fewe istractions and luck for madrid and its over ,thats why football is full of sht never the best team wins madrid never deserve to advance ,and a reminder that was a foul from benzema on donurama
if Madrid didn't deserve to win then who does Barcelona😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
powciknsu
1
The players something wrong
Kiebcluz
2
I don't even expected PSG signing pochettino as your coach. the former coach you sack is better than pochettino in every way. pochettino coaching and tactics not that good even when he was in former club. I don't even know what wrong with some club management, sacking a coach which have won you everything and even taking you to champion league final and went for pochettino who never won anything during his coaching career