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Pochettino: Too many stars caused confusion at PSG

Mauricio Pochettino has opened up about the challenges Paris Saint-Germain's superstar trio caused during his 18-month spell in France. 

The Argentine manager was sacked in July and replaced by Christophe Galtier.

Despite having a star-studded squad at his disposal at PSG, with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi leading the attack, Pochettino failed to win the other domestic trophies on offer, lifting only the league title last season.

During the head coach's reign, Messi and Neymar were both accused of disrespecting the manager on different occasions while the former Tottenham Hotspur boss was blamed for the South American duo's struggles on the pitch. 

Read: Laporta: Messi always has his home at Barca

Pochettino has admitted that having the aforementioned trio in one team also caused problems. 

"You need to adapt constantly because there was too much greatness," the manager said, per ESPN.

"For Barca to have Messi or for Madrid to count on Cristiano Ronaldo is a blessing. But when you put too many players on the pitch who all need their place and to be No. 1, there can be confusion.

"In the end, when you play, it's 11 players with only one ball. There was a penalty and who takes it? It's not even the manager's decision.

"Our ability [Pochettino and his coaching staff's] was that of being people who kept the consensus, who were flexible to give each person what they needed. The thing is each one needed something different with their circumstances, depending on how they were doing in sporting terms, in family terms etc.

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"We gave cause for there to be certain stability at PSG this year and for the same pieces to be maintained."

Pochettino also shared that he only found out that Mbappe was staying just a few hours before the official announcement. 

"They asked me in a news conference if I saw myself with Mbappe at PSG and I said yes because he had a year left on his contract," 50-year-old said, per ESPN

"[Carlo] Ancelotti [once] said that thing about how managers can't say the truth.

Read: PSG run riot in final Ligue 1 game before World Cup

"Kylian was always calm, he always told me that he hadn't taken a decision. I knew what everyone [else] knew.

"He told me: 'Mister, I haven't taken the decision.'

"I insisted: 'But tell me if you've signed, it can stay a secret.' 'Mister, I haven't signed anything,' he replied. 'Are you going to stay?' 'I don't know.' 'Are you going to leave?' 'I don't know.'

"And like that until the end. I don't know what happened afterwards, I only found out a few hours before the announcement was made at the final match [of the season]."

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