French champions PSG sack head coach Tuchel

PARIS: French champions Paris St Germain confirmed the sacking of coach Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday, paving the way for the expected hiring of Mauricio Pochettino.

The confirmation of Tuchel’s dismissal only four months after he led PSG to the Champions League final came after days of reports that the German would be replaced by Pochettino, the former Tottenham Hotspur coach. However, PSG did not immediately announce a new hiring.

“After an in-depth analysis of its sporting situation, Paris Saint-Germain decided to terminate Thomas Tuchel’s contract,” the French giants announced in a statement.

German Tuchel was dismissed on Christmas eve following a 4-0 win over Racing Strasbourg with the side sitting third in the Ligue 1 standings.

PSG have 35 points from 17 games, one point behind league leaders Olympique Lyonnais and Lille, and are through to the last 16 of the Champions League, where they face Spanish side Barcelona.

“I would like to thank Thomas Tuchel and his staff for everything they brought to the club,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.

After PSG beat Strasbourg on Wednesday, Tuchel was questioned after the game about comments he made to German broadcaster SPORT1.

Tuchel, 47, reportedly claimed that managing PSG was more akin to being a politician or a sports minister, such was the level of difficulty, and that he did not receive enough recognition for leading the club to their first Champions League final.

Should Pochettino take over, his opening match in charge will be January 6’s trip to St Etienne on Ligue 1’s resumption after the winter break.