Pochettino calls for PSG ´unity´ amid supporter discontent ahead of Real Madrid tie

Mauricio Pochettino has called for “unity” at Paris Saint-Germain following fan protests during their 1-0 win over Rennes on Friday.

PSG were made to work hard for their three points against the only team to have beaten them in Ligue 1 so far this season.

Kylian Mbappe eventually scored in the 93rd minute, but that strike did little to appease frustrated supporters.

The Collectif Ultras Paris group sent a powerful message as one end of the Parc des Princes was left empty for half an hour at the start of the match, while various banners were later unveiled.

The supporters took issue with a range of issues relating to their club, with PSG’s indifferent displays this term – despite a 16-point lead in the league – not helping matters.

This comes as PSG prepare for their biggest match of the season at home to Real Madrid on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

“We need unity,” Pochettino said, speaking after the Rennes game. “The fans are very important for a club and they have the right to express themselves, but we need unity.

“We are entering an important moment of the season and we need to be together.

“As I always say, we can sit down at the end of the season to try to correct things, because there are probably things to improve so that our club continues to be one of the biggest in the world.”

Big Up Legend… pic.twitter.com/7jI4obAd1Y

— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) February 11, 2022

On the pitch, there remains a clear contrast between PSG’s brilliant back-line and a blunt, expensively assembled attack.

The leaders have kept five consecutive home Ligue 1 clean sheets under the same coach for the first time since Unai Emery’s side had six in a row in 2016.

And PSG’s unbeaten run in the league has now stretched to 15 in the longest active sequence across Europe’s top five leagues.

But Pochettino’s men had just one shot on target across the entire match, which saw only two including one for Rennes – the lowest total in a Ligue 1 game this season.

A little too accustomed to leaving it late, that sole effort on target was Mbappe’s goal and meant PSG have now earned eight points thanks to strikes from the 90th minute onwards.