Pochettino believes PSG win gives confidence for Real Madrid tie
Paris Saint-Germain cruised to victory over Brest on Saturday and Mauricio Pochettino sees the victory as something to build on.
Mauricio Pochettino believes that Paris Saint-Germain's win over Brest can give them confidence for their Champions League tie with Real Madrid.
Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG sit 11 points clear at the summit after cruising to a 2-0 victory over Brest at Parc des Princes on Saturday.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring with his 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season, meaning he has now hit double figures in six straight league seasons – in that period, no other player has managed to do so more than three times – before Thilo Kehrer sealed the three points.
PSG face Real Madrid in Champions League
With Madrid to come in the Champions League last-16 in February, Pochettino insisted that his side can use the triumph as a base to build confidence.
"Every game, every competition is different," he told reporters at his post-match news conference. "But this performance, especially in the second half, gives us confidence.
"It reaffirms certain ideas and concepts that we must work on. It's true that the team was good and did what we expected.
"We started well but then we lost a few balls and we got into trouble. In the second half we made better decisions.
"We saw good collective play, we controlled the match. I am happy with the involvement of all the players. We had better circulation by being aggressive. Yes, I am satisfied, because it was not an easy game.
"We would have liked to win more broadly so that it corresponds to the number of chances we created. But the most important thing is to get chances.
"We know that we have players who have the goals in their legs. If they didn't score today it will be next time."
Ramos returns
Pochettino also had time to introduce centre-back Sergio Ramos for his home debut after the hour mark.
And the former Tottenham head coach suggested that the Spain international could offer him a different dimension with his team, with the option of playing a three-man defence.
He responded to reporters when asked about deploying three defenders: "It is an option. Everything is possible in football. We can consider it. We have already done this during the match.
"It's not just putting in players but yes, it's an option."