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Recruiting three of the finest forwards in world football to chase Champions League glory sounds like a dream scenario from a video game, but for Mauricio Pochettino, it was very much his day-to-day reality at Paris Saint-Germain.

The French club’s attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe appeared, at least on paper, to be one of the most formidable combinations ever assembled. However, the reality of managing such immense talent proved far more complex.

Despite PSG’s remarkable attacking strength, Pochettino was unable to guide the team to the elusive Champions League triumph. Now preparing for the World Cup in his current role as USA national team coach, the Argentine has spoken about the delicate balance he had to maintain during his spell in Paris.

“You have to think about how you manage expectations,” Pochettino told FourFourTwo. “Messi plus Neymar plus Mbappe made everyone expect an upgraded version of all three, but to make that work, you need a solid structure behind them.”

He added, “These players were all born to be number one. They’re not used to sharing the penalties, assists, goals, or headlines. Managing that dynamic is never simple.”

Pochettino took charge of Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021 and remained at the helm for two-and-a-half years, during which he won the 2021/22 Ligue 1 title and the 2021 Coupe de France.

Although he couldn’t deliver the Champions League trophy, Pochettino said he valued the experience of coaching three elite stars. “It was a pleasure to coach them,” he said. “Each of them was extraordinary, and dividing the spotlight required humility. They handled it well, showing great professionalism and understanding how to share the stage both privately and publicly.”

“However, as a staff, we felt the strain because after every match, the praise wasn’t always distributed evenly. That naturally affects a player’s ego. But ego is not a bad thing — without it, none of them would have reached the top.”

Pochettino elaborated, “Ego helps you survive at that level. To be number one, you need a bit of selfishness. What made it challenging was that all three were at different points in their careers — Mbappe thrived on pace and vertical play, Messi needed time to control the rhythm, and Neymar, who was a mix of the two, was often hindered by injuries.”

“Bringing all those dynamics together twice a week was extremely difficult,” he admitted.

One frequent criticism of PSG’s star-studded attack was their lack of defensive contribution. But Pochettino clarified that he never demanded intense pressing from the trio. “That discussion never happened — it would have been out of place,” he explained. “You can’t expect Messi, Mbappe and Neymar to press like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola. They are completely different types of players.”