Mauricio Pochettino squandered Manchester United audition in two PSG moments vs Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain keep finding new and more spectacular ways to self-implode on the greatest stage.

The French behemoths have long since become a mockery in the biggest Champions League nights, their name a byword for fragile mentality.

But their latest implosion against Real Madrid will surely go down as one of the worst in their back catalogue of self-capitulations; one that was, as always with PSG, entirely man-made and through their own fault.

Worryingly, from a Manchester United perspective, the manner of the defeat also raises questions about Mauricio Pochettino and whether he really is the right man to bring United back to where they ought to be.

It must be said that being a coach at PSG is a futile career choice. The players essentially run the club and don’t adhere to tactical instructions. Better coaches than Pochettino have tried and failed to steer the ultra-lavish PSG cruise liner, where the biggest names always dictate terms.

But Pochettino hardly covered himself in glory in the Santiago Bernabeu either.

PSG had total control of the tie from the first leg. They bossed Real for the majority of the game, to such an extent that there were rumours that Kylian Mbappe wasn’t impressed with what he saw and was actually considering staying in Paris (although after the second leg, he might now be reconsidering that idea).

Moreover, PSG were 1-0 ahead in Spain before their latest embarrassment came to the fore. There was a beautiful sequence of play in the second half when Lionel Messi, Marco Verratti, Neymar, Leandro Paredes and Danilo Pereira were all involved in a litany of passes – well over 30 – that exuded confidence and gave the impression that PSG were in control of the affair.

Even when Karim Benzema got