We know we have to improve, reveals Mauricio Pochettino
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that the trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe failed to produce impressive displays as they are still looking to create a team. The trio started together for the first time but was unable to fire PSG to victory as they drew 1-1.
Ander Herrera opened the scoring for the French club in the 15th minute through a first-time finish that scorched past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner but PSG were quickly pegged back as Hans Vanaken scored in the 27th minute as he placed the ball into the top corner. Despite numerous chances for both teams to secure the victory in the second half, both teams couldn't find the breakthrough and had to settle for a point in the first game of the Champions League campaign.
Messi was making his first start for the club against Brugge, having only played 24 minutes for the French club since making the switch from Barcelona. The Ligue 1 side have assembled a star-studded list of players at the Parc des Princes but getting them to perform in the same wavelength as a collective could take some time. Trying and fitting a collection of world-class players into the starting XI was always going to be an issue for PSG early on into the campaign. Pochettino admits that this is already the case with the trio misfiring in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"We know we have to improve. That's not the problem for me. need to compete, to know each other, to understand each other, to play together to succeed with all three but that was not the problem. "We weren't strong enough in a Champions League match. We are not happy with the result and the performance, we know we have to do better,” Pochettino told reporters in his post-match press conference.
"We have a magnificent group of players, we now have to find a defensive and offensive organisation. We need time.
"We need time to work for them to build an understanding. That’s been clear and we’ve said that in recent days. We still have to create a team,” he added.