Thomas Tuchel has been sacked by Paris Saint-Germain and is set to be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino, according to reports in Germany.
Former Tottenham boss Pochettino is being lined up to take over from Tuchel, who was relieved of his managerial duties just hours after overseeing PSG’s 4-0 win over Racing Strasbourg on Wednesday.
According to Sky Germany, PSG’s sporting director Leonardo sacked the 47-year-old after the club’s emphatic win at the Parc des Princes, which came four months after Tuchel led the Parisian outfit to the Champions League final.
Thomas Tuchel has reportedly been sacked by Paris Saint-Germain just days before Christmas
Ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is being lined up take over from Tuchel in charge at PSG
While PSG haven’t quite dominated Ligue 1 like in previous years, Tuchel managed to come out on top in their awkward Champions League group, which contained RB Leipzig and Manchester United.
However, Wednesday night’s game against Strasbourg proved to be Tuchel’s last, after he was told his services were no longer needed.
It was also PSG’s last game before the league’s three-week winter break, which will see them return on January 6 to face St Etienne.
Tuchel criticised his position as PSG boss on Wednesday, where he claimed he felt like a ‘politician’ at the club.
Tuchel oversaw PSG’s 4-0 win over Racing Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday
Tuchel congratulates his PSG players just hours before he was sacked as boss
Tuchel told Sport 1: ‘To be completely honest, during the first six months, I said to myself: ‘Am I still a manager or am I a politician in sport, a Minister for Sports?’ In a club like this, it is not always just about football.’
Massimiliano Allegri, who has been out of work since leaving Juventus last year, is also one of the bookies’ frontrunners for the job.
Pochettino is still without a club having parted company with Tottenham last year and is being mooted to make a return to the club where he featured as a player.
According to RMC Sport, PSG are currently in negotiations with the Argentine boss.
Pochettino has been linked with the other top managerial positions with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United all being linked with the 48-year-old in the past year. However, he has been biding his time for the perfect project.
Pochettino recently said: ‘I have always said that one day it would be a pleasure to manage a big club like Paris, a dream.
‘I try to watch all of their games, especially in the Champions League and sometimes I speak with [Paris Saint-Germain assistant coach] Jean-Louis Gasset.’
Pochettino enjoyed a successful spell at Paris Saint-Germain and has a fondness for the city
The report goes on to claim that Les Parisiens opened negotiations with Tuchel’s lawyers to find a settlement, with the German still having six months left on his current deal as manager.
Tuchel has endured a difficult start to his third season in charge and saw him lose ground in the title race having lost four in 11 games this season.
It left the French champions playing catch-up to Lyon and Lille, who had both lost just one game this season.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss was pleased with how his team performed before he got the sack, claiming that his side overcame several injuries to win comfortably on the night.
Tuchel said after their 4-0 win: ‘We made a lot of changes and we had a lot of injuries. I saw a great performance and everyone was focused and disciplined. It was a great win to end the year on.
PSG managed to finish top in a tough Champions League group earlier in the month
‘We played very fluidly, very quickly and simply. We stayed together both in attack and when we needed to defend. We showed a lot of quality and hard work,’ he said.
‘We managed to stay patient and it was tough against a Strasbourg side that defended very deep in a 5-3-2.
‘It was tough to find moments to speed the play up. We made a few changes but we got into a rhythm really quickly and I’m delighted with the performance.’
PSG are currently third in the table and are just a point off top spot and boast the best goal difference in the league.