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Paris, France | XINHUA | After securing a spot in the Champions League semifinals after edging Bayern last night, Paris Saint-Germain are brushing aside suggestions that they are now title favourites.
Next for PSG will be the winner between another German outfit Dortmund and Premier side Manchester City. The English team travels to Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday with a 2-1 home victory from the first leg.
“I have no preference for the opponent (between City and Dortmund),” Pochettino said about the future match.
“I do not think (PSG is the title favourite now). We eliminated Barcelona in the round of 16. We knocked out Bayern in those two matches, but that doesn’t mean we have become the favourite. Chelsea is qualified, tomorrow we will see who from Liverpool, Real Madrid, Dortmund and Manchester City qualify. But they have as much chance as us for the final victory,” the Argentine added.
Although suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain still secured a spot in the Champions League semifinals on away goals with an aggregate score of 3-3.
PSG took sweet revenge on the German giant for its frustrating memory in last season’s final of the European elite club event when the French powerhouse was beaten by 1-0 in its debut in the tournament’s final.
“I’m really really happy because the players deserve that. All the staff that are here too because they suffered a lot last year with the final and I think the players deserve massive credit and I’m so happy for them,” said PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the goal for Bayern from a counter-attack in the first half, only minutes after Neymar missed several chances with one attempt hit the crossbar and another hit the post.
“We came up against a great team. We are also a great team and we showed it tonight. We have eliminated the champions of Europe,” the Brazilian star said.
“This (renewal with PSG) is no longer an issue. Obviously, I feel very comfortable and at home here at PSG. I feel happier than I was before,” added Neymar, whose words may be a good relief for PSG fans.
Bayern had to play without its injured lethal striker Robert Lewandowski, which made the side lacklustre in the front.
“Normally, my team has so much quality in the final third, but today they were lacking that final punch. We have to accept that, even though we would have liked a different outcome,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick who added that he would decide on his future at the club at the end of the season.
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