From Pampered Superstars to Hungry Youngsters: PSG’s Path to Champions League Title

Paris Saint-Germain F.C. have shed the haughty, nouveau-riche moniker that has followed the team since its takeover by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) more than ten years ago, thanks to their youthful roster and appealing style of play. Their reputation as UEFA Champions League chokers was also banished as they defeated FC Internazionale Milano in Munich on Saturday.

PSG’s expensive, star-studded teams have accumulated a dismal record of Champions League disasters over the years, earning them an unwelcome reputation as reckless, goal-oriented spenders. The French men’s club football champions, which waived players like Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi, embraced a great chance to erase the recent past on Saturday when they thrashed Inter 5-0 in the Champions League final.

Coach Luis Enrique has stripped his team of superstars and transformed it into a youthful, cohesive, and forward-thinking force. The matchup in Munich that ended in a record UCL final goal margin was an incredible accomplishment. In the process, the Spaniard has contributed to a shift in domestic and international opinions about the club, owned by a Qatari government-operated shareholding organization.

PSG have reassessed their strategy, prioritizing athletic excellence and consistency over flash and glamour. The choice to sell off Neymar, not renew Messi, and ultimately, however unwillingly, let Mbappé go to Real Madrid also marked the beginning of this change two years ago. Regardless of the team they cheer for, European football fans must give the French team’s strategy adjustment credit for making “Les Parisiens” (The Parisians) tournament favorites.

In Paris, it was breaking news when they got rid of the Galactico stars and brought in all the hungry young players who play as a team. Those who have been coming to Parc de Princes for years say as one: “This is the best PSG team they’ve ever seen.”

Getting “Likeable”

Luis Enrique, whose winning record and style of play have won the admiration of both opponents and supporters, arrived at the same time as the reset. People’s perceptions of you change if you begin to defeat the best clubs in Europe, and in style. The strategy Luis Enrique has implemented is extremely difficult for opponents to follow. Opponents are driven insane by the sheer number of variations between players and positions. It’s the result of a change that started the previous season and is now paying off.

The qualities that Luis Enrique’s PSG lacked in previous seasons—teamwork, selflessness, and tactical discipline—have now become defining characteristics. They were clearly seen in the semi-final matchup with Arsenal, where Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a January acquisition, led PSG’s counterattacks and neutralized Bukayoko Saka in defense. During the Messi-Neymar period, would PSG have acquired a player like “Kvara”? Of course not. However, the club’s transfer policy is consistent today.

With an average age of just 24, the French champions had the youngest squad in the Champions League this season. With their victory on Saturday, they became the second-youngest team to win the tournament trophy, behind the 1994–95 winning Ajax Amsterdam team. With 19-year-old Désiré Doué and 22-year-old Bradley Barcola leading the way behind talismanic striker Ousmane Dembélé, who’ll undoubtedly be a strong candidate for the Ballon d’Or following PSG’s victory against Inter, their multifaceted assault is particularly impressive.

Luis Enrique’s team is notable for combining youth with the tactical acumen needed for elite European football. This team is made up of talented players who collaborate and share the same goal. You need this mindset in order to achieve your greatest success.

Attitude Both on and off Playing Field

Another trait that was severely lacking in previous PSG teams but that Dembélé and his teammates seem to have mastered is mental toughness. In late January, “Les Parisians” almost avoided an early tournament departure by rallying from a two-goal deficit against Manchester City at the Parc des Princes, displaying unheard-of tenacity. From the infamous 2017 “Remontada” in Barcelona to their home collapse against a miserable Manchester United two years later, the turnaround was in sharp contrast to previous disasters.

The players’ poise has reflected the club’s increased sobriety off the field as well, as Luis Enrique has been able to lead his team without being influenced by the irrational demands of the club’s Qatari owners and famous players. Under sports director Luis Campos, who has performed admirably, as he did at Monaco and Lille in the past, PSG has granted Luis Enrique complete discretion over player selection.

Putting aside their previous arrogance, PSG today appear to be fostering characteristics that appeal to the fans, such as professionalism and a certain kind of simplicity, as demonstrated by Luis Enrique riding his bike to the training area or engaging in informal conversation with spectators. Since it’s ultimately a sport, and morals are what matter most in sports, it’s a very good thing.

Both the team’s fans and sports analysts have had hope in this new PSG after years of heartbreaking defeat in Europe. For the first time, the public and media were rooting for PSG to win, pointing out that there’s a lot less hostility toward this squad than there used to be. It wasn’t difficult to predict that Luis Enrique’s team would defeat Inter by relying on the youthful zeal of the Parisians against an aging Inter team. Even football gambling websites saw it.

This was undoubtedly the best moment for Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League.