2023-09-07 03:50:44
Since his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, his word has become increasingly rare but not less and less precious. The former sporting director of the capital club Leonardo gave a very long interview to the Brazilian media Globo Esportivopublished on Tuesday, in which he looks back on all the highlights of his career and in particular his time at the capital club as a manager (2011-2013 then 2019-2022).
One of the recurring themes of the Brazilian’s two terms, and which has hovered over PSG since the arrival of the Qataris at the head of the club in 2011, is obviously the conquest of the Champions League, the club’s main if not only objective. of the capital for more than ten years. Why hasn’t PSG won it yet? “The Champions League is not easy to win, retorts the Brazilian. Manchester City has just won it after 15 years of effort. Of course, not having won is like having a little ball of lead tied to your ankle. But PSG are already among those who can win. Sooner or later it will happen. »
The failure of the MNM, more a fault of management than of ego
At Paris Saint-Germain, Leonardo notably lived a season of the “MNM”, the attacking trio made up of Kylian Mbappé, Leo Messi and Neymar supposed to bring Europe to its knees. Without success. “Honestly, I don’t think it was an ego thing. There are people who are more complicated, and I don’t want to define here who is more complicated or less complicated. People with this level of talent are not complicated. They solve more problems than they create. And if you have to solve their problems, that’s part of it. »
“You have to take on the burden as well as the premium,” he continues. If you accept an attack like this, you’ve done everything you can for a team. If it doesn’t work, it’s not for nothing. These guys need to feel good, they need a state of mind, to be recognized. And it is the club that must do this work, it is us managers (…) Talking is easy. Doing it on a daily basis is difficult. »
Leonardo understands the departure of Neymar
This summer, two of the three members of this magical trio left the club. Messi in MLS, at Inter Miami, Neymar in Saudi Arabia, at Al-Hilal. “I am not Neymar, but I went to Japan when I was 24, he comments about his compatriot. It could have been a completely questionable choice, and for me it was a wonderful thing. Even though he’s in a league we don’t know deeply about, he can maintain his form, he just has to want it. »
On the other hand, he did not wish to reconsider his position on Kylian Mbappé, whom he felt was the right time for him to leave the club. “Everyone who follows football has seen my opinion and I wouldn’t even want to go back to it. It’s my opinion, it’s been said, I believe it and that’s it. »
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