Manchester City also beat PSG in the semi-final of last season's Champions League
Mauricio Pochettino's mission at Paris St-Germain is to win the Champions League amid the talk he will be the next manager of Manchester United.
If the Argentine fails, that may be the end of him at PSG anyway, even if he wins the French title. If he succeeds, he might feel his work in Paris is done and that he can move on with grateful thanks.
This may just be a "win-win" for Manchester United as they move from caretaker to interim manager and on to a summer permanent appointment following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Champions League is the one trophy to elude Pep Guardiola at Manchester City amid a blizzard of domestic domination. That absence was felt most painfully when they lost last season's final to Chelsea in Porto.
But barring something unforeseen, Guardiola's future at City is as rock solid as he wishes, which cannot be said of Pochettino in Paris.
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There was certainly temptation to highlight a contrast between Guardiola's bastion of stability and Pochettino's relative uncertainty as City secured top spot in their Champions League group with a fully deserved 2-1 win over PSG at Etihad Stadium.
City's manager spoke glowingly on the eve of this game about his personal and professional relationship with director of football Txiki Begiristain, one that goes back to their playing days together at Barcelona. Meanwhile, the speculation in Paris is about the perceived unease between Pochettino and sporting director Leonardo.
Guardiola's Manchester City were everything Pochettino likes his teams to be and more besides. for a start, they were actually a team.
City were a coherent, fiercely committed unit playing in the very specific style their manager demands. PSG were a collection of talented individuals with many marching to their own beat.
Guardiola's team has world-class players but they all work within that familiar high-intensity framework, allied to the sort of character that allowed them to shrug off the blow of going behind against the run of play to turn the game around.
Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar had the fewest touches of the PSG players to play the full 90 minutes
PSG almost operate like two teams locked within one. There are Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar – and then there's everybody else.
Pochettino's teams usually have his philosophy stamped right through them. Positive, athletic, pressing, intense. Every player imbued with a relentless work ethic.
Not this one.
The growing feeling, as the PSG fans made their discontent known at the final whistle, is that Pochettino's long-term hopes rest on somehow imposing his style on individuals who like to do their own thing. On this evidence, he has a job on his hands.
On several occasions, PSG's men at the back were seen gesturing to those at the front to get their hands dirty as City turned up the pressure. Those pleas that often fell on deaf ears. Too often, the big three were just strolling around and the rest were not good enough to carry them.
Messi, Mbappe and Neymar have all those glorious gifts but work-rate was not one of their qualities here. And, deep down, you can imagine that Pochettino's natural instinct is to want so much more.
Mauricio Pochettino was appointed PSG manager in January
In these circumstances, with these players, Pochettino could struggle to impose his style. PSG do not look or play like a Pochettino team.
If he does not, or cannot, do that, then talk of his arrival at Manchester United will only grow louder.
City were everything PSG were not. Pochettino must have looked on in envy as City's players showed sweat-stained character and resilience as well as class. And it was all done without Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and £100m summer signing Jack Grealish. If calling this a statement win should be avoided, it was certainly a statement of strength in depth.
It is a mystery how the Champions League title has escaped a side as good as City but the talk of "statement" wins that usually follows these results is wasted now because too often it has been followed by disappointment. Their quest is quite simple. Win it.
When they play like this, they take some stopping. But we have said this before.
Taken on this game, however, City were the complete package. They imposed their will on PSG from the first whistle, pushing the French league leaders back, but they were hit with a sucker punch when Mbappe pounced on Messi's deflected cross.
PSG had asked the question of City and received an emphatic answer. Raheem Sterling capped a period of pressure with the equaliser and Gabriel Jesus scored the winner after Neymar missed a perfect opportunity to restore PSG's lead.
Once again, City showed they are perfectly at home among Europe's best. They must be placed with Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich in an elite group who can believe that Europe's most prestigious trophy can be theirs.
Pochettino cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle, disappointment written over his face at PSG's performance and the result.
Guardiola, in contrast, was a picture of delight at the end of a contest between Manchester City's team and PSG's individuals. The team won convincingly.
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Comment posted by Dave Angels Moonlight Shadow, today at 00:37Dave Angels Moonlight Shadow
00:37I’m not convinced it’s possible to win with a team of ‘superstars’. I think there’s a lot to be said for the fact that Klopp Guardiola and Tuchel steer away from Hollywood signings, preferring more ‘ordinary’ players who are team oriented. Same could be said of Bayern.. no apparent egos there. Man Utd are in classic PSG style.. full of guys who think they’re the dogs doodahs but ultimately losers75133
Comment posted by The Crackster, today at 00:22The Crackster
00:22“PSG were a collection of talented individuals with many marching to their own beat,” reports McNulty.
Isn’t that exactly what Pochettino will inherit if he does take over at Manchester United?45923
Comment posted by JackMcMac, today at 00:26JackMcMac
00:26Mbappe wants to leave, Messi is there because he had no choice, Neymar is the definition of a luxury player. All are undroppable in the eyes of the owner. Overrated team.3696
Comment posted by Tonic, today at 00:14Tonic
00:14I see Poch passed his first interview at UTD… losing to Pep….. nearly there son!34939
Comment posted by nontribal, today at 00:50nontribal
00:50PSG just don’t play as a team. They have great players but their work rate is poor. They also play act too much – it becomes predictable and tiresome to see them go down feigning injury when they get tackled. Man City were the superior team tonight and deserved their win. They work as a team and for each other. Great atmosphere tonight. Good to see all the English PL teams go through to next round2256
Comment posted by The Spin Doctor, today at 00:14The Spin Doctor
00:14What Poch needs to understand is despite being second best to City in all departments, he is currently still in a far, far better position than he would be if he joins Man Utd.21741
Comment posted by random_banter, today at 00:21random_banter
00:21Football 1 – Diving and rolling around 016913
Comment posted by poiuyt, today at 00:25poiuyt
00:25If Pochettino fails at PSG despite the wealth of world-class talent, are United really going to think he’s the man for their job? There are parallels between the highly paid individual stars of PSG who struggle to work as a cohesive unit, and the highly paid stars of United.12912
Comment posted by geoffinho, today at 00:16geoffinho
00:16Was at the game to watch Messi. Looked disinterested as if he’s wanting to go home. Mbappe and Neymar are massively overrated in my opinion. City outclassed them.1125
Comment posted by dangerous dave, today at 00:43dangerous dave
00:43A distinct lack of acknowledging city won without De Bruyne, Foden, Grealish or Torres available to them in attack. Show me any side in the world that wouldn’t struggle with that kind of talent unavailable.11913
Comment posted by Michael from Canada, today at 00:51Michael from Canada
00:51So he cant manage the egos at PSG? No egos at United then?845
Comment posted by manchesterfor arsenal, today at 00:43manchesterfor arsenal
00:43I wonder which match PM watched? And why BBC is committing so much column pages to Man United, even using a Man City match as an excuse to write about United.
BBC FYI there are 20 teams in the premiership to write about. The sacking of OGS should not make headlines in general news, nor generate 3-4 news articles each day especially when these are comments based on conjecture and rumours.9925
Comment posted by Silian East, today at 01:02Silian East
01:02Fantastic by City. And what a pity that for all his skill and wealth, Neymar would still rather cheat than play the game684
Comment posted by 971, today at 00:29971
00:29HYS on french sites its the players that get the stick. Paris supporters are fed up with PSG always buying the big players who don’t perform. Their attitude is bigs players don’t warrant their salaries. Amonst other complaints.653
Comment posted by tikkamosalah, today at 06:48tikkamosalah
06:48Not a Man City fan but watched the game and you can only admire the way Man City played and controlled the game. Some of the best high intensity passing I’ve seen for a long time. Hope Pep wins it. He deserves it.602
Comment posted by Pandemania, today at 00:25Pandemania
00:25City played well. They would’ve beaten most teams with this performance. Nothing to see here546
Comment posted by chanasnakepit, today at 00:25chanasnakepit
00:25PSG not as good as everyone makes out to be. Mbappe and Messi are quality. Though Messi not really turned up for the French league atm. Neymar is overrated. Not even good enough to lace Brazilian ronaldo’s laces!!487
Comment posted by Stupid Like A Fox, today at 06:47Stupid Like A Fox
06:47Neymar is the most overrated footballer ever! He’s a circus show pony402
Comment posted by Corks, today at 00:38Corks
00:38If Pochettino is not happy with being ‘First Team Coach’ at PSG then no way he will join UTD. United will not give any ‘Manager’ the power Ferguson had ever again.427
Comment posted by youcantbeserious, today at 00:26youcantbeserious
00:26When you’ve got three passengers in your side that wont defend then good luck. I understand Messi not running back to defend, but Neymar and the 22 year old. It’s a joke and Pochettino has to play them. he couldn’t even take one of them off in the second half. He’s better off leaving this club with all the superstars that can’t play as a team.395