Exclusive Foot Africa - Denis Lavgane: "This PSG is unstoppable!" | OneFootball

First and foremost, it was a collective triumph. Every PSG player contributed to the victory—there wasn’t a single one you could single out above the rest. I’d say everyone played their part, and this PSG side draws its strength from the collective, allowing each individual to fully express their talent for the benefit of the team. That’s why PSG is performing at such a high level right now.

Honestly, there wasn’t a turning point because there simply wasn’t a contest. From the very first whistle, PSG took control, and after just 10 minutes at 2-0, the match was already decided. Real Madrid never mounted a response. PSG never allowed them the chance to react. I believe PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made his first save in the 82nd or 83rd minute. That tells you everything—you can’t really call it a match.

It wasn’t just a defensive collapse—there was no match from Real Madrid’s side at all. They were outclassed in every department, both defensively and offensively. Paris Saint-Germain was simply superior, and Real Madrid could do nothing but endure the onslaught for 90 minutes. The whole team fell apart.

I’d say Fabián Ruiz converted his chances, netting twice. But really, he wasn’t any more decisive than the others. The team is a collective—there’s no one player standing above the rest. It’s a squad, eleven starters plus substitutes, all putting their qualities at the service of PSG. They’ve got quality players, and that’s what makes the difference.

I don’t think there was a specific tactic just to play Real Madrid. Above all, PSG played to their own strengths—they played their football. They train to dominate possession, press hard after losing the ball, dictate the tempo, and make the opposition chase.And then, when counter-attacks are on, they know how to strike. They play their own game and don’t adapt to the opponent. They impose their qualities, regardless of whether it’s Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, or anyone else—the aim is always to stamp their authority on the match.

Yes, Luis Enrique is successfully implementing his vision, but it’s also down to a shift in PSG’s overall philosophy. Previously, the club relied on superstars, but stars alone don’t make a team. Now they’ve changed tack, focusing on talented young players who may not be global stars but are great team players. The best players are, above all, team players.Now, everyone contributes a bit extra for the team. When you have 11 players on the pitch, but each gives an extra 10%, it’s like having a 12th man out there. That makes a huge difference.Having stars is great, but football is, above all, a collective sport. It’s vital that everyone puts their strengths at the service of the group, both offensively and defensively. You can see the difference between today’s PSG and Real Madrid, who struggle to impose their rhythm. This PSG side is simply unplayable—just as Barcelona and Manchester City were in their prime.

Real Madrid should have been asking themselves questions about their collective approach since last year. It’s all well and good to attack and want to make things happen, but everyone needs to put in the defensive work, too. Everybody must contribute defensively. You saw the difference—now Real Madrid has a lot to change.

I’m not one for comparing eras or debating who’s better—football was different in ‘93 when Marseille dominated French football. Now, it’s PSG’s turn. When you see PSG winning 4-0, 5-0, crushing Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, and even beating City 4-2, you have to say they’re probably the best team in Europe—maybe even the best in the world right now. As for whether they’re better than OM ‘93, that’s for fans and journalists to debate.

Honestly, I don’t see where PSG could get better. They’re not conceding, they’re scoring loads, creating plenty of chances, and their collective play is top-notch. If there’s any improvement to be made, it’s not about raising their level but maintaining this standard over time. Even the substitutes come in and immediately hit the same level. Right now, everyone accepts their role. The next challenge is to keep playing at this level consistently.

I think he has a great understanding with Luis Enrique. Together, they’ve chosen young players with huge potential, perfectly suited to Enrique’s style of play—very collective, very intense, high pressing to win the ball back quickly. They picked profiles that fit this philosophy, and it’s working. It’s always about the collective. Paris made the right call moving away from a star-focused policy and bringing in the type of players Enrique wanted.

Paris Saint-Germain didn’t try to replace Kylian Mbappé man for man, because I think it’s almost impossible to find someone of his caliber. Instead, they changed their approach, building around youth and collective play—and that’s what we’re seeing now.Could they have achieved this with Mbappé? We’ll never know. But they’re fortunate to have Dembélé, who wasn’t known as a prolific scorer but has been finding the net regularly since January. So, it’s the shift in policy, more than any one signing, that’s filled the Mbappé void.

Given their recent results, Paris Saint-Germain are, for me, the clear favorites. Of course, football is never an exact science—every match is different. But if PSG maintain this mentality and intensity, they should win. Still, football always has its surprises, and every game writes its own story. We’ll see how it ends.

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