Since the acquisition of PSG by Qatar Sports Investments – a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign power fund of the country – Les Parisiens had an unflattering reputation in Europe. Not so long ago, PSG was seen as a Feckless, directionless, careless assembly of too much paid and too expensive football players whose presence in the Champions League was virtually guaranteed in view of their dominance in Ligue 1.
As for their performance in the Premier Club competition of Europe, PSG has usually underperformed and even earned a reputation as large bottlers. The Remontada 2017 against Barcelona and the collapse of the second half of 2022 in Santiago-Bernabéu were the most important examples of the latter. Such disappointments made PSG the smiling stock of Europe. In 2023, PSG cut Christophe Galtier loosened to appoint Luis Enrique, whose first decision was to Neymar Jr. And Marco Verratti, two orientation points of the QSI era, to tell to find meadows new. From that moment PSG finally became a sympathetic team on its way to the Champions League final on Saturday. Here is how.
Over the years, PSG coaches at a high level such as Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel or Mauricio Pochettino had appointed. Yet none of them had a greater impact than the former Spain manager. Luis Enrique transformed an under -performing team into a coherent unit to take into account. The former head coach of Barcelona created a lot to his own image: confidently in their strength, energetic, disciplined and smart.
The feeling of companionship Luis Enrique taught to PSG is clearly seeing forward players who go back to help their friends, something that rarely took place when Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé were seen together. Luis Enrique also managed to get the best out of players in their peak years, such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi and, especially, Ousmane Dembélé, whose transition from Gung-Ho right wing player to Lethal Center-Forward was completely unexpected.
The playing style of the Spaniard, his results, his dedication to learn French, his ability to think about his own earlier mistakes and the grace with which he has to deal with personal tragedy, worth his respect.
One of the many criticism of PSG aimed at PSG was the clear mismatch between what the team needed and the players who signed the club. The clearest example of this is the recruitment of the then free agent Lionel Messi in 2021. Signing the Argentinian legend made absolutely no sporting sense and his two -year enchantment can be considered a failure, both for him and for PSG. The same can be said of Sergio Ramos.
Fortunately, lessons have been learned. Under the guidance of Sporting Director Luis Campos, PSG shifted from the bling-bling era to a youth-oriented policy with the emphasis on French players, whose motivation to represent the best team in the country is undoubtedly lagging behind. Such a revolution was not without failure. Two years ago, PSG Randal Kolo Muani signed for € 90 million, Manuel Ugarte for € 60 million and attracted free agents Milan Skriniar and Marco Asensio with high wages.
The previous transfers players showed the power of PSG to get back on his feet. They signed João Neves from Benfica for € 60 million, half the price of his release clause, and then sold Ugarte – whose tendency to commit errors and slowness turned out to be harmful to Luis Enrique – for a similar amount. Neves proves an absolute hit, just like Désiré Doué.
PSG remains very much a state of the state with almost non-restricted funds, but at least they are seen as serious operators on the market. Moreover, the Ligue 1 champions do not hesitate to spend large if a market chance becomes too good to ignore, such as Napoli Wantaway wing player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Georgian winger settled seamlessly in the team and embodies what PSG now stands for. Kvaratskhelia is at the same time a throwback with its reduced socks, his George best-like look and elite dribbling quality and a modern winger. The former Napoli man is an selfless and tireless player, as evidenced by his all-action display against Arsenal in the semi-final of the Champions League. Kvaratskhelia founded the opener of Dembélé in the Emirates Stadium, restored more balls than all players on the field and helped Nuno Mendes to cancel his opposite song, Bukayo Saka.
The willingness of PSG players to play together is also clear when their front three will go through their positions to become even less predictable. Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk-Misschien did recently the best center-back in the world about how we were impressed by the playing style of Les Parisiens and the efforts they showed when the two parties clashed in the Champions League Last-16.
A few years ago PSG would certainly have lost in a high -effort game in an atmosphere as hostile as Anfield's. But these exuberant, tireless and young PSG are a different breed. And on Saturday evening they could become the second French side to win the biggest prize of all, the Champions League. And if they don't, they still have something that they were very missing: probability and respect of their colleagues.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval