Mauricio Pochettino lavishes praise on ‘humble’ Neymar and says PSG superstar needs to ‘dance’ and enjoy football like former teammate Ronaldinho ahead of blockbuster Man City clash

Mauricio Pochettino has labelled Neymar 'humble' and a 'joy to coach' as Paris Saint-Germain prepare for their blockbuster Champions League semi-final clash against Man City on Wednesday.

Over a year after leaving Tottenham, Poch took the reins at PSG in in January and has guided them to the semi-finals of Europe's elite competition having stunned holders Bayern Munich with two hugely impressive performances in the quarter-finals.

2

He faces a fight to retain the Ligue 1 crown, however, with Lille leading the top-flight by one point with four matches remaining.

The current focus, though, will be on Man City, as they prepare to face the Premier League champions-elect at the Parc des Princes.

He will be hoping his electric forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will on their best form and Poch heaped praise on the former ahead of the clash.

“It’s so easy with Neymar because you don’t need to do too much,” Pochettino told the . “From day one, he’s been very open to work. He’s very humble, he listens and always accepts all the instructions in a very good way.

"Brazilian players have something special inside. They love to play football because it’s like a dance. They play like they are dancing.

"Ronaldinho was my team-mate when I was a PSG player and now Neymar. They need to feel good, to feel happy to perform in the best way.”

2

PSG’s owners took charge of the club in 2011 but the club's ultimate goal to win the Champions League has so far eluded them.

Argentine Poch is confident that this year could be the year that they have the tools to go one better.

“The target in the last 10 years has been to win the Champions League and the club is working really hard to try to be there and win,” he said. “It is that last step, which is always the most difficult.

"If you remember at Tottenham, it was always about the last step being the most difficult thing. But Paris Saint-Germain is there and now it is about winning. I love to feel this. I love to feel that you need to win every single game.”

Pochettino, though, will have to find a way to stop a Man City side who have dominated the Premier League this season and who - in his mind - have the best manager in world football in charge.

"For me, he is the best," said Pochettino of his former Premier League rival.

"I admire him and think he is doing a fantastic job not only at Manchester City but in Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

"He is an amazing, intelligent coach, always thinking of different strategies and game-plans. I love to challenge him and the teams he prepared.

"Not only the best manager. The club is important, too. A club that trusts you to build a team and provides you with all the tools to be successful. That is the combination at Manchester City between Pep, the coaching staff, the club, the board, everyone.

"They create an amazing structure, very solid, and a very clear idea of how they need to act to be successful.'"