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Mauricio Pochettino backtracks on comments over Kylian Mbappe future

Pochettino backtracks on comments over Mbappe future
© Reuters
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino backtracks on recent comments that he made over Kylian Mbappe's future with the French champions.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has sought to clarify comments he made over Kylian Mbappe's future in the French capital.

The 23-year-old is yet to pen an extension on his existing deal at the Parc des Princes, which is now due to expire in under two months' time.

Mbappe is therefore still set to leave as a free agent when his contract runs out at the end of the season, with Real Madrid still being persistently linked with a summer swoop for the World Cup winner.

However, there is now understood to be more optimism about the prospect of Mbappe penning fresh terms with the Ligue 1 champions following talks between the club and the player's family.

When asked during a press conference how confident he was about the club's chances of keeping Mbappe at this moment in time, Pochettino responded "100%", but the Argentine took those words back following his side's 3-3 draw with Strasbourg on Friday night, as well as a similar comment that he made regarding his own future at the club.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino pictured on April 23, 2022© Reuters

"I'm very tired because it's hard to explain, but I tried. I only answered the question I was asked: 'Today, what percentage is there?' 'For me, 100 percent. Kylian too,' I said," Pochettino told Amazon Prime Video.

"I don't understand why this was taken out of context. I'm very tired, but I'm strong and I don't care about rumours. I'm focused on football, on my players. We continue to do our job.

"That's the problem. We are here to work for the club, to give our best, and there is a lack of respect all the time.

"We will continue to work, we are very happy that the team does not give up, it is still professional, it wants to play. Tomorrow is tomorrow, but today I am 100 percent involved with PSG."

Pochettino collected his first domestic league crown as PSG clinched the Ligue 1 title with a 1-1 draw against Lens last month, but the Argentine's own future is being heavily called into question following their Champions League collapse at the hands of Real Madrid.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager was considered one of the frontrunners for the Manchester United job before the appointment of Erik ten Hag, although a recent report claimed that the French champions are indeed planning to part ways with Pochettino.

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring against Real Madrid on March 9, 2022© Reuters

Current Spurs boss Antonio Conte has been tipped to take over at PSG should Pochettino depart as expected, but the Italian recently dismissed such links as "fake news" and "lies".

Meanwhile, Mbappe is not expected to make a decision on his future until the end of the 2021-22 campaign, during which he has already bagged a staggering 35 goals and 23 assists in 43 matches across all tournaments.

Twenty-four of Mbappe's goals and 16 of his assists have come in 32 Ligue 1 matches for the newly-crowned champions, as he scored two and set up Achraf Hakimi but could not prevent PSG from giving up a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 with Strasbourg on Friday.

Mbappe unsurprisingly leads the way in both goals and assists in Ligue 1, with his 24 strikes three clear of closest challengers Wissam Ben Yedder and Martin Terrier, while teammate Lionel Messi is closest behind in assists with 13.

The 2021-22 Ligue 1 title represents Mbappe's 12th major honour with Les Parisiens since his initial loan move from Monaco, with the striker picking up four Ligue 1 crowns, a trio of Coupe de France and French Super Cup crowns, as well as two French League Cups.

Should Mbappe complete a free transfer away from the Parc des Princes alongside Angel Di Maria, PSG have reportedly offered a big-money deal to Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele, who will also become a free agent in July.

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Ousmane Dembele in action for Barcelona in February 2022
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