PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino tests positive for Covid-19 48 hours after winning first trophy

Posted Saturday, January 16, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Mauricio Pochettino has Covid-19 meaning the PSG boss will now have to self-isolate, having only just won the first trophy of his managerial career on Wednesday

Mauricio Pochettino has Covid-19 and the PSG manager will now have to self-isolate.

The Argentinian has tested positive for the virus less than 48 hours after winning the first trophy of his managerial career.

The French giants beat Marseille 2-1 to lift the Trophee des Champions on Wednesday night.

But it has been a swift setback for Pochettino, who only succeeded Thomas Tuchel at the Parc des Princes two weeks ago.

PSG have confirmed his assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D'Agostino will take charge for Saturday's Ligue 1 game away to Angers.

PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino tests positive for Covid-19 48 hours after winning first trophy
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has tested positive for Covid-19 (Image: GETTY)

Ex-Tottenham and Southampton boss Pochettino has had a rollercoaster start to life in Paris.

His first game in charge ended in disappointment as PSG were held to a 1-1 draw away to Saint-Etienne.

A comfortable 3-0 triumph at home to Brest followed, though, in the league.

PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino tests positive for Covid-19 48 hours after winning first trophy
PSG stars like Neymar will have to cope without boss Mauricio Pochettino over the coming days

And then Marseille were crucially beaten 2-1 on Wednesday after Mauro Icardi netted in the first-half before Neymar sealed the victory deep in the second period from the penalty spot.

Dimitri Payet netted a late consolation for Marseille but it was not enough to deny Pochettino his first piece of silverware as a manager.

The 48-year-old had come close many times with Spurs, having reached the Champions League final in 2019 before losing 2-0 to Liverpool.

PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino tests positive for Covid-19 48 hours after winning first trophy
Mauricio Pochettino reached the UEFA Champions League final with Tottenham in 2019 but they lost to Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano (Image: GETTY)

And the 2016/17 campaign saw Tottenham narrowly pipped to the Premier League title by rivals Chelsea, despite suffering just four defeats all season.

That painful wait for the highly-rated boss finally ended this week.

But the previous target for Manchester United, as a potential replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, now faces a period away from work.

PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino tests positive for Covid-19 48 hours after winning first trophy
Mauricio Pochettino and his team celebrated winning their first trophy together at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Wednesday