Argentinian coach Mauricio Pochettino, the current manager of the United States national soccer team, said he fondly remembers the challenges of coaching Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar Junior at Paris Saint-Germain, during a recent interview where he discussed that period.

Pochettino explained that the period between January 2021 and July 2022 was special but full of challenges, noting that the trio of players "seem bigger than the club itself" due to their popularity and the impact of their decisions on millions of fans around the world.

He added that his desire was to create a natural environment within the team despite the exceptional circumstances surrounding it and its constant presence in the news.

Among the moments he recalled, Pochettino spoke about a match against Olympique Lyon, when he had to substitute Messi for health-related reasons: "Messi was frustrated and said to me, 'You have to ask me,' but I had to prioritize his health." He noted that things got back on track after Messi scored an important goal against Manchester City in a subsequent match and hugged him in the locker room.

Despite the local successes achieved by the team with Pochettino, such as winning the league and the French Cup, the project did not reach its ultimate goal in the Champions League. This has sparked discussions on how to manage big stars within a club that aspires to win major European titles.