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New Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino is famous for improving his players and getting the best out of youngsters.
It would be fair to say that end of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure at Tottenham Hotspur happened in anticlimactic fashion. After all, the Argentine had guided Spurs to the final of the UEFA Champions League in the season prior to the one in which he was sacked.
Pochettino brought the best out of players like Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, Delli Alli and Christian Eriksen and the all-action Tottenham Hotspur were a treat to watch under him until that very last season he spent in North London.
Mauricio Pochettino is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in Europe right now and was heavily linked with Manchester United for a while. A big portion of the United fanbase wanted him to take over at the helm before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was eventually appointed.
That Pochettino has the ability to improve Paris Saint-Germain is clear after what he did at what was a pretty low-profile Spurs side when he initially took charge. And here, we take a look at five players who could thrive under Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain.
5 players who could thrive under Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain
#5 Marquinhos
At Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino had left-footed Jan Vertonghen and right-footed Toby Alderweireld playing as the centre-backs. Though Poch likes building from the back, he also tasks his centre-backs with playing long balls over the top of the opposition's defence, on occasion, for his forwards to get after.
Toby Alderweireld used to do this often for Spurs and in Marquinhos, Pochettino has a player who is quite capable of playing some exceptional floated through balls. Marquinhos' passing range is pretty impressive and he has played as a central midfielder several times in the past.
In Pochettino, Marquinhos will have a manager who knows to get the best out of his abilities and the Brazilian is certain to thrive under Pochettino's tutelage.
#4 Idrissa 'Gana' Gueye
Pochettino is likely to end up using a double pivot in midfield at Paris Saint-Germain similar to the one he had at Tottenham Hotspur. Mauricio Pochettino likes one of his deep-lying midfielders to act as a destroyer of sorts while the other one is afforded the freedom to foray forward.
This is the job that Victor Wanyama used to do at Spurs alongside Mousa Dembele. In Idrissa Gueye, Poch has an aggressive defensive midfielder who is adept at winning the ball back and kickstarting the transition from defence to attack.
Nemanja Matic had fallen down the pecking order at Manchester United during Mourinho's final days. But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knew how to use him better and the Serb played a crucial role for the Red Devils last season despite being in his 30s and has delivered whenever called upon this term as well.
Mauricio Pochettino could do a similar job at Paris Saint-Germain with Gueye.
#3 Marco Verratti
The 28-year-old is already one of the finest registas in the game. Alongside Gueye, Verratti will operate from a deep position but will carry the ball forward thanks to his elite dribbling skills. If and when he does that, he will have the pacy Paris Saint-Germain popping up in spaces all around him.
Verratti is one of the best passers in the league and has a pass completion rate of 92% in the Ligue 1 this term. Verratti would undoubtedly thrive in Pochettino's system at Paris Saint-Germain as he fits the profile of the playmaker that the Argentine likes to have in his midfield.
#2 Neymar Jr.
Neymar is quite often seen dropping deep whenever he senses a shortage in service. This is a trait that Pochettino is likely to appreciate and the Brazilian loves to get on the ball.
At Spurs, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli used to alternate in this role. Both were skilful players and would eventually become the creative forces in the side. In Neymar, Pochettino has a player who is even more technically proficient.
The Brazilian loves to roam into the final third and take defenders on. He also weaves some exceptional threaded passes in the final third. Neymar could be deployed in his preferred position and he would cut in from the left flank as he likes to do and create chances for his teammates.
Neymar Jr. is certain to thrive under Pochettino as the Argentine manager has worked with lesser players and guided them to a Champions League final. The man surely knows a thing or two about getting his players to perform to the best of their abilities.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
At 22-years-old, Kylian Mbappe is an exceptional player and he has had the good fortune of being coached by some of the best in the business in his short career so far. Now, he has to keep his head down and stay at the top of his game and Pochettino is a great manager to be working under at this stage in his career.
Pochettino turned Dele Alli into a star. In Kylian Mbappe, Poch already has a global superstar in the making. Mbappe has already scored 12 goals and provided five assists from across 16 appearances in the Ligue 1 so far this season.
The Frenchman will be tasked with making runs in behind the defence like Alli used to do for Spurand if Neymar does play in a slightly deeper role, then Mbappe could play closer to Icardi or Moise Kean and be more of a direct threat to goal.
Moise Kean has been in fine form since joining PSG and alongside him, Mbappe will be an absolutely menacing presence.
