Rio Ferdinand delivers verdict on Manchester United target Mauricio Pochettino after PSG loss

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has refused to blame managerial target Mauricio Pochettino for Paris Saint-Germain's dramatic Champions League exit to Real Madrid on Wednesday evening.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg in Paris last month, PSG doubled their lead in the tie just six minutes before half-time at the Bernabeu through Kylian Mbappe. The French giants were in control of the contest and looked destined to join the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in the last eight.

However, they collapsed in the final half an hour of the contest, conceding a hat-trick of goals from Madrid striker Karim Benzema. The French striker scored all three of his goals in the space of just 17 minutes to stun PSG and spark pandemonium in the stands.

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Considering PSG had been the far superior team for much of the tie, it was a hammer blow for the Ligue 1 club. Furthermore, of course, it ended their hopes of this season finally being the year that they secured their maiden Champions League crown.

But whilst the defeat will automatically increase the pressure on Pochettino, Ferdinand does not believe the Argentine can be forced to accept all of the blame. That is because it has become something of a tradition for PSG to collapse in Europe's premier club competition.

"Many managers have been there, won the league, but failed in the Champions League," Ferdinand told BT Sport. "We saw today how the team folded.

"This isn't just a one-season episode, this continually happens every year where you think, 'Oh PSG, especially in the attacking areas, with the players they've got, an array of international players they have, they're going to have it,' and they