Since Qatar Sports Investments became the majority shareholders of Paris Saint-Germain there has been one goal: Win the Champions League.
Prior to this season, PSG had reached the final just once, with the French side losing against Bayern Munich in 2020.
Despite regular funds being given to land superstar names, the club have consistently fallen short in Europe’s biggest competition. Winning Ligue 1 every year isn’t enough.
Fast forward to this season and PSG have booked their place in the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Munich.
Not only have they gone all the way, they’ve done it in style. PSG have arguably been the most entertaining team to watch and they’ve also beaten four Premier League teams during the campaign. So, what changed? FIRST.com have dived into what tweaks the club have made.
The main reason behind their turnaround is PSG’s change in transfer recruitment and their switch to a team-first mentality.
The front three of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi comes to mind when thinking of recent PSG but they don’t sign superstar names just to build the club’s brand anymore.
Following the exits of Neymar and Messi in 2023, Mbappe opted to leave for Real Madrid last year. Many thought this could be the end of PSG’s domination but it did the complete opposite.
PSG aren’t a team of individuals anymore and the focus is on the squad as a whole. Their stars work hard and track back while also having plenty of quality.
Under Luis Enrique, PSG are a fluid and free-flowing side when going forward. Without the ball, they’re aggressive and quick to win it back while also being hard to break down.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is a monster in goal, and he’s saved PSG on numerous occasions. Their wing-backs, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, are solid defensively while being as good as most wingers in Europe going forward.
Vitinha makes them tick in midfield behind their star front three of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and usually one of Bradley Barcola or Desire Doue.
PSG would go all out and get picked off by better teams, however, Enrique’s game management is always brilliant and he’s a calming influence.
While the club have spent large transfer fees on the likes of Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue and Joao Neves in the last couple of years, the transfer philosophy is different.
PSG wants young and hungry players to improve at the club and grow into superstars. They’re focused on spending smarter and having a team-first mentality, which is proven by the squad’s average age dropping to 23.6.
Enrique will be hoping that sustainable philosophy pays off this season as PSG look to achieve their ultimate goal in lifting the Champions League.
