Leonardo comments on Mauricio Pochettino's future lay bare PSG situation

The Paris Saint-Germain sporting director stopped short of suggesting Pochettino would remain at the helm for the long-term in the wake of the club's disastrous defeat by Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo insisted manager Mauricio Pochettino will remain the in charge of the team for the remainder of this season.

The French giants were dumped out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage to Real Madrid after a 17-minute Karim Benzema hat-trick turned the tie on its head.

The Parisians made the trip to the Spanish capital with a 1-0 aggregate advantage following Kylian Mbappe's last-gasp goal in the first-leg.

Progression for PSG seemed even more likely when Mbappe bagged another 25 minutes into the second meeting, but some second-half heroics from Benzema ensured PSG's wait for an elusive Champions League title continues.

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This is not the first time the Ligue 1 titans have capitulated on club football's biggest stage, shock exits at the hands of Barcelona and Manchester United in recent years have seemingly planted seeds of doubt in the club's foundation when it comes to Champions League knock-out ties.

However, Leonardo told RMC Sport after the full-time whistle that the club need to remain calm in the wake of their elimination.

"We shouldn’t throw everything in the bin. We shouldn’t start from scratch after every loss. The objective is to win the Champions League, and until half time we were fine.

"We have to look to improve this team and maintain morale to play in Ligue 1 and to finish the season well."

He did however, stop short of confirming Pochettino's status as manager beyond the end of this season.

"Pochettino is still part of the project for this season. It’s not the time to think about that," he added.

The former Spurs boss has been relentlessly linked with the vacant permanent United managerial role and this exit could hasten his potential arrival al Old Trafford.

Pochettino is highly thought of by the Red Devils hierarchy, who may have been watching on willing a Real Madrid victory given it should make enticing the Argentine to Manchester significantly easier.

Leonardo went on to bemoan some of the officiating, particularly in the build-up to Real Madrid's first.

Benzema appeared to shoulder-charge PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but referee Danny Makkelie waved play on and just seconds later Los Blancos had equalised.

"It’s a tough one to take," Leonardo complained.

"We can’t bury everything that was done. It’s hard to analyse. The incident of the foul on Donnarumma was crucial, but we struggled to manage that moment.

"We lost control. We need to look for solutions. But it’s a shame that a referee’s decision can be so influential in that sort of moment."

Former Real Madrid man Steve McManaman covered the game as part of BT Sports team of pundits and insisted the problems in Paris go beyond Pochettino.

"The players are too powerful. They were too powerful under Thomas Tuchel, too powerful under Unai Emery, too powerful under this man [Pochettino]," McManaman explained.

"They can’t get told off and when the going gets tough, they do not care.

"They play where they want to play. The top three are amazing footballers but they don’t work hard, they do not work hard when the going gets tough."