Mauricio Pochettino has enjoyed a period of calm at Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks, but with the return of the Champions League and a round of 16 first-leg tie against Real Madrid on Tuesday, it’s time for the former Tottenham manager to strap himself in for the turbulence that lies ahead.
There is no escaping the fact that Pochettino’s reign as PSG coach will be defined by what happens in the box-office tie against Madrid. If PSG are able to dump out Carlo Ancelotti’s LaLiga leaders, it will generate belief at Parc des Princes that the club’s array of superstars — including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar — can finally go all the way and win the Champions League this season while, at the same time, giving Pochettino control of his own destiny.
But if PSG suffer the ignominy of elimination at the first knockout stage, regardless of the pedigree of their…
