Former PSG Manager Has Strong Take on Real Madrid Star Kylian Mbappé | OneFootball

Former PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino was talking with Josep Pedrerol on “El Cafelito” about his time in the French capital.

The Argentine led PSG from 2021 to 2022 during the “bling bling” era. Pochettino coached Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappé, and others, but he expresses no hard feelings about how his PSG tenure ended.

During a close interaction with Mbappé, Pochettino was asked what kind of player the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is and how he uses his leadership to get the best out of his teammates.

Former PSG manager backs Kylian Mbappé

(Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Although there’s debate over whether the Frenchman can lead, Pochettino insists he can take on a leadership role. With Real Madrid seeing veteran players depart over the years, a leadership vacuum has emerged, and Pochettino suggests the attacker could step in to fill it.

“Mbappé is a leader,” Pochettino said. “Now, he’s a certain type of leader. He’s a different kind of leader compared to Neymar, Sergio Ramos, or [Lionel] Messi. Each one has their own leadership qualities. To understand that, you need to know how to position your players behind him.”

This season will determine if the former PSG star is a leader. Gone are the veterans like Luka Moric at Real Madrid, and on the French national team, he’s the captain ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Many will ask, can Mbappé be at the forefront of winning trophies this season?