FEATURE | How PSG finally became a likable team on their way to the Champions League final | OneFootball

Since PSG’s 2011 takeover by Qatar Sports Investments – a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority, the country’s sovereign wealth fund – Les Parisiens had an unflattering reputation in Europe. Not so long ago, PSG were seen as a feckless, directionless, careless assembly of overpaid and overpriced football players whose presence in the Champions League was virtually guaranteed given their domination in Ligue 1.

As for their feats in Europe’s premier club competition, PSG mostly underperformed and even earned a reputation as big-time bottlers. The 2017 Remontada against Barcelona and the 2022 second-half collapse at Santiago-Bernabéu were the prime examples of the latter. Such disappointments made PSG the laughing stock of Europe. In 2023, PSG cut Christophe Galtier loose to appoint Luis Enrique, whose first decision was to tell Neymar Jr. and Marco Verratti, two landmarks of the QSI era, to find pastures new. From then on, PSG finally became a likable team on their way to Saturday’s Champions League final. Here’s how.

Luis Enrique, the energetic boss with an iron fist

Over the years, PSG had appointed high-level coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel or Mauricio Pochettino. Yet none of them has had a bigger impact than the former Spain manager. Luis Enrique transformed an underachieving squad into a cohesive unit to be reckoned with. The former Barcelona head coach very much created a team in his own image: confident in their strength, energetic, disciplined and clever.

The sense of camaraderie Luis Enrique instilled to PSG is obvious at the sight of forward players tracking back to help their mates, something that so rarely occurred when Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé featured together. Luis Enrique also managed to bring the best out of players in their peak years, like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi and, most of all, Ousmane Dembélé, whose transition from gung-ho right winger to lethal centre-forward was completely unexpected.

The Spaniard’s style of play, his results, his commitment to learn French, his ability to reflect on his own previous mistakes and the grace with which he dealt with personal tragedy are worthy of respect.

A coherent sporting policy

One of the many criticisisms aimed at pre-2025 PSG was the clear mismatch between what the team needed and the players the club signed. The clearest example of this is the recruitment of then free agent Lionel Messi in 2021. Signing the Argentine legend made absolutely no sporting sense and his two-year spell can be considered a failure, both for him and for PSG. The same could be said of Sergio Ramos.

Fortunately, lessons have been learnt. Under the guidance of Sporting Director Luis Campos, PSG shifted from the bling-bling era to a youth-centric policy with an emphasis on French players, whose motivation to represent the country’s best team leaves no doubt. Such a revolution was not without its failures. Two years ago, PSG signed Randal Kolo Muani for €90m, Manuel Ugarte for €60m and lured free agents Milan Skriniar and Marco Asensio with high wages.

The previous transfer windows showed PSG’s ability to get back on their feet. They signed João Neves from Benfica for €60m, half the price of his release clause, and then sold Ugarte – whose tendency to commit fouls and sluggishness proved detrimental to Luis Enrique – for a similar amount. Neves proves an absolute hit, as does Désiré Doué.

PSG very much remain a state-owned club with near-unlimited funds, but at least, they are now seen as serious operators in the market. What’s more, the Ligue 1 champions do not hesitate to spend big if a market opportunity becomes too good to ignore, such as Napoli wantaway winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

A new work ethic

The Georgian winger settled seamlessly into the squad and embodies what PSG now stand for. Kvaratskhelia is simultaneously a throwback – with his lowered socks, his George Best-like look and elite dribbling quality – and a modern winger. The former Napoli man is a selfless and tireless player, as shown by his all-action display against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals. Kvaratskhelia set up Dembélé’s opener at the Emirates Stadium, recovered more balls than any players on the pitch and helped Nuno Mendes to nullify his opposite number, Bukayo Saka.

PSG players’ willingness to play together is also obvious when their front three permute their positions to become even less predictable. Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk – arguably the best centre-back in the world – recently spoke of how we was impressed by Les Parisiens‘ style of play and the effort they displayed when the two sides collided in the Champions League last-16.

A couple of years ago, PSG would have certainly lost in a high-stakes game in an atmosphere as hostile as Anfield’s. But this exuberant, tireless and young PSG are a different breed. And on Saturday night, they could become the second French side to win the greatest prize of all, the Champions League. And if they don’t, they’ll still have something they sorely lacked: likability and their peers’ respect.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval