Mauricio Pochettino, PSG rue game of ‘two different halves’ after Man City comeback in Paris

AFP via Getty Images
Tom Doyle28 April 2021

Mauricio Pochettino was left to rue a game of “two different halves” as Paris Saint-Germain allowed Manchester City to take control of their Uefa Champions League semi-final tie.

The Premier League leaders were stung by an early Marquinhos goal as the hosts dominated the first half of a high-quality encounter at the Parc des Princes.

But City responded brilliantly with Kevin De Bruyne equalising after 64 minutes and Riyad Mahrez firing home a free-kick soon after.

PSG lost their discipline as City threatened to score more in a strong finish, and Idrissa Gana Gueye was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.

Pochettino was disappointed that his side had been dominated after the break, telling BT Sport: “They were two different halves. The first half, we did well.

“It’s difficult to eliminate a team like Manchester City, but we created chances and I think we deserved to go into the dressing room with an advantage.

“But second half, they were better than us and they dominated and two accidents, two goals. In the second half, they dominated and they created more than us. It was one half for each.”

Pochettino vowed to go for broke when the teams meet again at the Etihad Stadium next week.

AFP via Getty Images

He said: “In football, you need to believe and go there in six days and try to approach the game like today, try to win, to score goals.

“Of course, the advantage is a little bit with Manchester City, but in football always you need to try.”

Additional reporting by PA.

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