Mauricio Pochettino was tight-lipped when quizzed on Erik ten Hag's unveiling as the next permanent Manchester United manager.
Ten Hag will take over at Old Trafford at the end of the season with United confirming his appointment on a three-year contract on Thursday. The Dutchman's main rival for the role was Pochettino, who had been tipped for the United role throughout a challenging season with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine has proven Premier League experience from his eye-catching spells with Tottenham and Southampton but United chiefs were ultimately won over by Ten Hag's impressive track record with Ajax. Speaking on Friday, Pochettino refused to be drawn when asked about whether Ten Hag winning the race to become United manager will allow him to refocus his efforts on PSG.
"All the rumours throughout my football career have never really affected me," he said. "I don't comment on rumours either. When I have been in charge of Southampton, Tottenham and now PSG, I have always been fully committed. Rumours are rumours, we don't need to pay attention to them now. We know they exist and they are generated on a daily basis. As always, we are focussed on our job at the club."
Although Pochettino will not be returning to United this summer, he is on the brink of winning the first top-flight title of his career. PSG will wrap up the Ligue 1 crown on Saturday if they win or draw against Lens but their manager is refusing to underestimate the seventh-placed opposition. "We have great respect for Lens," Pochettino said. "They are a solid team, in form. They have good players and a very good coach.
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"We expect a difficult match. To win the match and the title, we will need a good team performance. They have real physical and technical qualities to cause problems for their opponents." He added: "You have to give value to the title of champion. When you don't win it, it's a problem.
"So when you win it, you must not underestimate it. It's important for us personally, for the club and the fans. We hope they will celebrate with us. We hope to have a nice atmosphere for the match and a celebration. Critics are listened to, the fans are an important part of the club." While PSG are all but certain to win Ligue 1, they suffered a humiliating last-16 exit from the Coupe de France and an equally-embarrassing defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League.
