Staff Reporter.
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
Paris St Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has tested positive for coronavirus.
The former Tottenham manager only took over at the Parc des Princes on January 2 and led the club to Trophee des Champions glory on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over Marseille.
An official club statement read: “The coach of PSG Mauricio Pochettino is confirmed positive in the Sars-Cov2 PCR test.
“He will therefore respect isolation and is subject to the appropriate health protocol. His assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D’Agostino will take over from tomorrow in Angers.”
Victory over rivals Marseille in midweek saw Pochettino win the first major trophy of his managerial career following spells with Espanyol, Southampton and Tottenham during the last decade.
PSG had players missing for the Marseille game after testing positive for COVID-19. Pochettino was not wearing a face mask when joining in trophy celebrations with the players.
Meanwhile Neymar is in talks to extend his contract at Paris-Saint Germain.
The 28-year-old is understood to be happy at PSG at the moment and the club are looking to tie down their star player to a long-term contract.
His current deal at the Parc des Princes, which he signed on his arrival from Barcelona in a record-breaking £200m move in 2017, is due to expire in June 2022.
The Brazil international has been linked with a return to Barcelona in recent windows and handed in a transfer request in June 2019 but he could now be set to extend his stay in France.
Neymar also made it clear he is keen to remain in the French capital after scoring a hat-trick in PSG’s final Champions League group stage game against Istanbul Basaksehir in December.
“I am very happy here in Paris,” he said. “I am very happy at the club, with my team-mates. The idea of leaving has not crossed my mind.
“We need to talk. We have a very good relationship, I am very happy and we will see what happens in the future.”
Neymar returned from an ankle injury on Wednesday night and scored a late penalty as Mauricio Pochettino’s side claimed the Trophee des Champions with a 2-1 win against Marseille.
He made 13 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 10 goals as PSG are second in Ligue 1, one point off leaders Lyon.