The current coach of the US national team recalls the 2021 episode and defends himself
Mauricio Pochettino, the current coach of the US national team, recalled the controversial decision to substitute Lionel Messi during a PSG match against Lyon in 2021, revealing the strong reaction his choice provoked, including from then-sporting director Leonardo and his own wife.
The episode occurred on September 19, 2021, in a match valid for the 6th round of the French Championship between PSG and Lyon. At 76 minutes, with the score tied, Pochettino decided to take Messi off the field to bring on Achraf Hakimi. The decision generated controversy, since the Argentine star is rarely substituted and his discontent was visible as he left the field with a closed expression. It is worth remembering that PSG ended up winning 2-1, with a goal from Mauro Icardi in stoppage time. Five years later, in an interview on the Stick To Football podcast, the Argentinian coach admitted that he regretted not consulting the player before making the decision. However, he reiterated the justification given at the time: the intention was to protect Messi, who was complaining of a knee problem.
“My intention was to preserve him for the Champions League,” Pochettino confirmed: “If I hadn’t made that choice, he would have been injured, which would have had consequences for the 2022 World Cup.”
The decision was not well received behind the scenes at the Parc des Princes. Pochettino revealed that he was confronted by Leonardo, then the club’s sporting director. “Why? I spoke with Leo and he told me he didn’t care. People pay to see him play 90 minutes,” the Brazilian coach reportedly said.
The pressure didn’t end at the stadium. Upon arriving home, his wife alerted him to the magnitude of the controversy. “In Argentina, they’re destroying you. And in France too,” she said. Despite the criticism, Pochettino defends his choice, stating that he acted with the player’s best interests in mind.
“I didn’t want to prove I was braver than any other coach, but at the time it seemed like the best thing to do for him,” he concluded.
