Mauricio Pochettino tests positive for COVID-19

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has tested positive for COVID-19 and has now been forced into a period of self-isolation.

It's been a rollercoaster of a start to life in Paris for Pochettino, who joined on January 2 and needed just 11 days to lift his first trophy, steering PSG to a 2-1 win over Marseille to lift the Trophee des Champions.

For PSG, the hope was that they could carry that momentum over to Ligue 1 to reclaim their usual spot at the top of the table, but they will have to do so without Pochettino as the Argentine must now isolate.

"Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino has tested positive for COVID-19," a statement on the club's official website read. "He will therefore respect isolation and is subject to the appropriate health protocol.

"His assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D'Agostino will take over from tomorrow in Angers."

Pochettino is the latest person at the Parc des Princes to test positive for the virus, following defenders Colin Dagba and Thilo Kehrer, and midfielder Rafinha.

PSG currently sit second in Ligue 1, just one point behind leaders Lyon, so Saturday's meeting with Angers is a great chance for the defending champions to keep up the pressure.

The two sides met back in October, when PSG roared to an emphatic 6-1 victory, but Angers have bounced back since then and currently find themselves in seventh, picking up recent wins over high-flyers Lille and Marseille.

"We'll have to be ready on Saturday, because it's a very difficult game against Angers that's ahead of us," Pochettino said of the game before his test results came in. "We want to win again, and to do that, we have to be ready.

"We want to be top of the Ligue 1 table and to get there, we'll have to win. The most important thing is to be consistent in our performances. We're very happy with the way the players are picking up our concepts. I want to thank them, the staff that we already had here, and the fans who encouraged us before the match."

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