Sport
Have PSG finally got the right balance to win the Champions League?
Paris Saint-Germain came within touching distance of the Champions League trophy when they made the final of the competition for the first time three years ago. Bayern Munich were the team who stopped PSG from getting their hands on club football’s most prestigious piece of silverware with the two rivals set to face each other again in this season’s round of 16.
From the moment Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought a majority stake in PSG 12 years ago, they targeted European dominance through the Champions League. The competition carries symbolic significance for an ownership group with more than just sporting excellence on its mind, yet PSG have struggled to impose themselves at the top of the continental game.
This season, though, things might be different. Christophe Galtier was hired at the Parc des Princes last summer to build a team with a clear and coherent structure. The former Lille and Nice manager has focused on finding a system to get the best out of the talented individuals within the PSG squad and has achieved some progress.
Mauricio Pochettino attempted to force Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar into the same attacking line, but this left PSG top-heavy. Galtier, however, has dropped Messi deeper and harnessed the Argentine’s creativity. Messi is now the one pulling the strings for the French champions with Mbappe and Neymar as the runners ahead of him.
Last summer’s transfer window was used to sign players, mainly midfielders, who could provide cohesion between PSG’s central unit and their attack. Vitinha, Carlos Soler, Renato Sanches and Fabian Ruiz all arrived as PSG targeted system players over players to sell shirts. Galtier and sporting director Luis Campos drove the club in a new direction.
Breaking PSG from their old ways has been difficult, though, and this season has still seen reports of dressing rook tension emerge. On top of this, PSG’s form in 2023 has been patchy, winning just five of the 10 matches they have played in all competitions. Most recently, their Ligue 1 defeat to Monaco caused anger among the club’s supporters.
“I am worried about the match on Tuesday night,” said Galtier, referring to the Champions League last 16 first leg against Bayern Munich. “If I wasn’t that’d be something serious. We’ll see if some of those that couldn’t start the match today will be able to play on Tuesday. We have a very weakened team and we’re worried. In this period, you have to stay clear-headed. I understand the fan’s anger. There is anger.”
Bayern Munich have had their problems of their own this season with Julian Nagelsmann’s team drawing three games in-a-row in the Bundesliga after the World Cup break. Nagelsmann is under pressure to prove the Bavarians are heading in the right direction and the Champions League last 16 tie against PSG will be an indicator of this.
This season could be PSG’s last chance to win the Champions League with their current generation of players. Messi is out of contract at the end of the season while Neymar could also be on his way out of the club this summer if recent reports are to be believed. PSG’s team could look rather different next season.
It’s not even guaranteed that Galtier will still be in charge at the Parc des Princes next season. Zinedine Zidane is still out of work and has been linked with PSG more than once in recent months. Managers don’t ever last long in the French capital and yet more failure in the Champions League would surely finish Galtier. Until then, though, PSG will continue to attempt to strike the right balance.
