Big teams usually have big egos and are problems for most managers. It is quite an issue to manage star players, especially players who have a penchant for a social life that runs contrary to the discipline required to play football at the highest levels.
When Pep Guardiola arrived as the manager of Barcelona, one of the first issues he had to deal with was Ronaldinho. The Brazilian was a party freak, and Pep didn’t want his influence on the upcoming Lionel Messi. The Spanish coach also had to establish that he was the boss and let Ronaldinho go.
The same mantra helped Sir Alex Ferguson in his long years at Manchester United. It was easier back then, but player power is so enormous that a manager needs to be careful when handling them.
PSG has managed a collection of star players with the missing link, a star manager. There have been rumours of player dissatisfaction with the methods of Mauricio Pochettino.
Player storm at PSG
Without a strong character as a manager or a manager with a history of successes, then egos, like at PSG, are bound to overwhelm many managers.
The Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has confessed to a storm in the PSG dressing room. Lionel Messi is also unhappy with the way his fellow Argentine manages the team.
Pochettino has spoken of the situation in the team after a run of disappointing results. Lionel Messi is seen as the source of Pochettino’s woes as the Ballon d’Or winner does not believe that Pochettino has what it takes to manage a team like PSG.
The former Barcelona player believes that the style employed by Pochettino is too restrictive and does not play to the strengths of the players. L'Equipe reports that Messi and some of the other stars don't believe Pochettino has total control over the team and might be in over his head at the club.
Poor results and team balance
With more pressure mounting on Pochettino, the fractures in the team are beginning to become visible.
PSG are currently top of the table in Ligue 1, with 11 points clear of their closest rivals. The football displayed has been dour, and back-to-back draws have not helped Pochettino’s cause. Negative press has trailed the team. With Lionel Messi managing just a league goal so far, tongues haved wagging.
With star players who have won titles everywhere, the onus is on the manager to fashion out a plan that will bring the best out of the team.
The squad received a boost in the summer with the arrival of Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum, but Pochettino has been unable to find the right balance for the team.
PSG are already through to the next round of the UEFA Champions League but have a final league game against Club Brugge. The team has not been particularly spectacular in the Champions League.
Pochettino, however, claims to be calm about the whole situation.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
