Why PSG are Vying for their First Champions League Title under Luis Enrique
It has been four years since Paris Saint-Germain completed one of the most blockbuster transfer windows in football history. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum, Nuno Mendes, Sergio Ramos arrived to reinforce Les Parisiens’ team following a season that saw them lose the Ligue 1 title to Lille. However, the biggest arrival came in the form of Lionel Messi.
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino had to figure out how to fit three attacking superstars, Messi, Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé, starting lineup. On paper, it looked simple — three of the world’s best players — but in reality, it was a tactical nightmare.
Yes, all three were world-class on the ball, but off it? Not so much. This meant Pochettino had to set up in a 4-3-3 with Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé up top. But he had to sacrifice technical quality in midfield for more defensive-minded players like Leandro Paredes and Danilo Pereira, who would work tirelessly to win the ball back.
Even then, there were more issues — mainly width. All three forwards loved operating in the half-spaces, so the fullbacks had to constantly push forward to maintain width. While PSG still won games, they never really controlled them, especially against stronger teams. Take their 2-0 win over Manchester City that season: a flattering scoreline, but far from a dominant performance.
Ultimately, Pochettino was dumped out of the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16 by Real Madrid, who controlled the midfield and neutralized PSG’s attack. Add an early Coupe de France exit and a dull playing style, and it was no surprise that the Argentine manager was gone by season’s end. His replacement? The man who deprived PSG of the 2020/21 Ligue 1 title thanks to his heroics at Lille.
Enter Christophe Galtier, appointed in July 2022 to improve both the results and the football. He opted for a 3-4-3, allowing the front three to roam freely. Messi and Neymar operated in the half-spaces, while Mbappé led the line. It was more exciting, but the same story unfolded: another Ligue 1 title, and another Round of 16 Champions League exit, this time 3-0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. Galtier was sacked after one season and headed to Qatari side Al-Duhail.
Now we arrive at 2023. Fans were fed up. After years of underperforming in Europe, protests began — calling for both Neymar and Messi to leave. One group of PSG fans even showed up at Neymar’s house demanding his departure. It was around this time that PSG’s sporting philosophy finally shifted.
The era of signing big-name, established veterans was over. In came younger, hungrier, French talent: Bradley Barcola, Randal Kolo Muani, and Ousmane Dembélé (yep, replacing Neymar again). And who did the board trust to lead this new era? None other than the man who pulled the iconic La Remontada on them in 2017: Luis Enrique.
Heading into 2023/24, the club was not just undergoing a tactical shift — but a cultural one. PSG comfortably reclaimed Ligue 1 and progressed deeper in the Champions League. But Enrique demanded more. He wanted a team that worked just as hard off the ball as they did on it.
Remember earlier, how the Messi-Neymar-Mbappé trio lacked off-the-ball effort? Well, Mbappé was still brilliant — scoring 44 goals in all competitions and finishing as PSG’s top scorer by a mile. But his off-ball work rate remained a concern.
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Enrique reportedly sat him down and told him: “To be the GOAT, it’s not just about scoring goals.” He even compared him to Michael Jordan. But with Mbappe destined to leave for Real Madrid, and Kolo Muani underwhelming, Enrique faced a massive challenge: how do you replace Mbappe’s goals?
Summer 2024 saw key additions: Désire Doué, João Neves, and Willian Pacho—all brought in to reinforce different areas. PSG started slow in Europe, despite cruising in Ligue 1. They won their first group-stage match 1-0 against Girona, but then lost 3 of their next 4 and drew the other. With just 4 points from 5 games, they were staring at elimination.
But for those paying close attention—it was clear something was brewing. PSG smashed Salzburg 3-0 away. Then beat Man City 4-2 at home. And then thrashed Stuttgart 4-1 away to reach the UCL play-off round. There, they faced Brest—and absolutely annihilated them 10-0 on aggregate. In fact, the total H2H tally between the two clubs that season was 18-3.
January 2025 saw Kolo Muani offloaded to Juventus, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia arrived from Napoli—and the team kicked into another gear. Despite losing 1-0 away to Liverpool in the Round of 16 first leg, PSG dominated nearly every stat. In the second leg, they did the same—won 1-0, and finished the job on penalties (4-1).
Now they’re unbeaten in Ligue 1, have already secured the title, and are in the Champions League semifinals, where they will face Arsenal. So, what changed?
Under Luis Enrique, PSG start in a 4-3-3, aiming to control games by dominating possession and executing aggressive high pressing. They block central spaces and win the ball high up the pitch—something previous managers couldn’t implement due to a lack of off-ball work rate from star players.
Once they win possession, they flood the opposition box—often with 5 to 6 players—and move the ball quickly with minimal touches. In attack, the formation shifts into a 3-2-5, with Dembélé, Kvaratshkelia, and Barcola constantly rotating. Fullbacks like Mendes and Hakimi are crucial—providing width and joining attacks. Mendes has 6 goals and 4 assists, while Hakimi has 6 goals and an astonishing 14 assists this season.
PSG aren’t just a counter-pressing team, either. They dominate possession—averaging over 600 passes per game in the Champions League. Their attacking intent is clear: 278 shots attempted, 101 on target, averaging nearly 20 shots per game, with 7.2 on target.
Their high press has led to 60+ ball recoveries in the final third, with 15+ ending in shots, and at least 2 goals scored directly from that pressure. But this aggressive approach comes with defensive risks. Quick counters can still catch them out. Against Liverpool in the first leg, an Alisson long ball launched a counter before PSG could reset — Darwin Núñez held up the ball, Harvey Elliott joined, and Liverpool snatched the win despite being the worse team on the night.
Another clever wrinkle? When building out, Dembélé sometimes deliberately stays offside. This forces defenders to track back, creating space for Barcola or Kvaratshkelia to carry the ball forward. By the time Dembélé gets back onside, he’s already behind the defensive line—often in a perfect scoring position. This tactic worked beautifully for PSG’s second goal vs Stuttgart.
Now let’s talk about Dembélé — signed to replace Neymar, but ended up replacing Mbappé. Despite rarely playing as a center forward in his career, Dembélé has thrived under Enrique—30+ goals in all competitions. In fact, no one in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more since January.
The job Luis Enrique has done is nothing short of incredible. In just two seasons, he’s taken PSG from the “Galácticos” era to arguably the most cohesive, hard-working unit in Europe. They’re on track to become the first team ever to go unbeaten in Ligue 1, and have already beaten Aston Villa to reach the Champions League semifinals, where they’ll face Arsenal.
It won’t be easy—but with Enrique’s tactical genius and this squad’s intensity, PSG could very well reach their first final since 2020… and maybe even win it. Ironically, they may finally lift the Champions League—after letting go of the big names. Having already won the Trophée des Champions and Ligue 1 title, PSG have the chance to end the season with a quadruple, with a match-up against Reims in the Coupe de France Final looming in the distance.
As Enrique himself said after their 1st leg loss to Liverpool: “There’s nothing to explain. We were much better than Liverpool. Much better! Their best player was the goalkeeper. I’m proud of my team—we won’t give up.”
After demolishing Brest and narrowly edging Liverpool and Aston Villa, Les Parisiens will be looking to eliminate their third straight Premier League opponent and confirm their spot in the UEFA Champions League Final. Five games separate them from becoming the first-ever Ligue 1 team to finish a season unbeaten, whilst three matches separate them from their maiden Champions League trophy.
Can PSG finally crown themselves as the champions of Europe? Only time will tell.
By: Sekwila Mumba / Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s3kwila
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Getty Images