A year after Kylian Mbappé bid adieu to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the club has not only survived his departure but thrived under Luis Enrique’s strategic overhaul.
On the cusp of their first-ever Champions League triumph, PSG stand transformed – from a team reliant on individual brilliance to one that now thrives on collective strength, defensive discipline, and tactical cohesion.
Mbappé’s final match in PSG colours was the 2023 French Cup final on May 25, where he scored in a 2-1 win over Lyon to complete a domestic double.
That victory marked the end of an era characterised by dazzling attacking play, headlined by superstars such as Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. Together, the trio symbolised the “bling bling” football PSG had embraced – explosive but often imbalanced.
The End of the Galáctico Era
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi had long used the term “bling bling” to describe the club’s approach of collecting footballing superstars.
This model, though glamorous, failed to yield the Champions League title the club so desperately craved. Signings like Neymar, Messi, Sergio Ramos, and Dani Alves brought star power but left gaps in team structure and defensive work ethic.
Mbappé, for all his brilliance – 44 goals and 10 assists in 48 matches last season – was emblematic of this trend. He often contributed little defensively, a fact not lost on Enrique.
A widely circulated video from last season shows the Spaniard animatedly explaining pressing duties to Mbappé after a loss to Barcelona, a moment that encapsulated the divide between individual expression and team commitment.
Enrique’s Quiet Revolution
When Enrique took over in July 2023, he inherited a team of marquee names and expectations, but also one in dire need of a cultural reset.
Within months, Messi had departed for Inter Miami, Neymar was sold after another injury-hit campaign, and Mbappé’s long-speculated move to Real Madrid finally materialised for £128 million.
These departures cleared the decks for Enrique to implement his vision. “We are in the middle of building a new identity, our own style and way of playing, and a new culture,” al-Khelaifi said last season.
The task of architecting that new PSG fell squarely on Enrique, who had previously led Barcelona to the treble in 2015. Since then, PSG have become almost unrecognisable from the team that played the 2020 final.
Only Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe remain from that side. Even from Enrique’s first European matchday squad in September 2023, a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, five players have since exited.
Dembele’s Reinvention and Tactical Fluidity
Among the most significant transformations has been that of Ousmane Dembélé. A winger once criticised for inconsistency and poor decision-making, Dembélé has flourished as a false nine under Enrique.
With positional freedom and sharper finishing instincts, he has racked up 33 goals this season – more than in his previous five combined.
“He is always where he needs to be,” Enrique remarked. “He is then able to receive the ball and score with one touch.” Montpellier coach Jean-Louis Gasset described the tactical tweak as “the idea of the century,” a move that exemplifies Enrique’s sharp footballing brain.
PSG now employ a fluid attacking unit supported by a compact midfield and a high-pressing defensive structure.
Fabián Ruiz, with his left-footed precision and composure under pressure, anchors the midfield, while speedy wingers and full-backs provide attacking width and defensive cover.
From Fragile to Formidable
The path to the Champions League final has not been smooth. Five games into the group stage, PSG had only one win. Under the old six-match format, they might have exited early, but the new eight-match group structure gave them a lifeline.
PSG seized it with three straight wins, including a remarkable 4-2 comeback against Manchester City after trailing 0-2. That night against City was a turning point.
PSG’s high press disrupted Pep Guardiola’s carefully crafted rhythm, while their possession play carved open one of Europe’s most tactically disciplined sides. From that match on, PSG looked increasingly like a team peaking at the right moment.
The knockout rounds brought further validation, as PSG dispatched three more English clubs en route to the final.
Their press suffocated opponents, and their midfield trio controlled tempo and territory. According to The Athletic, PSG are now making five more tackles per game compared to last season, evidence of their improved work rate.
The New Identity
This defensive edge has been bolstered by smart recruitment. The January acquisition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was not only about attacking flair but his relentless pressing and defensive awareness.
Enrique emphasised this shift before the final: “This is one of the concepts which is hard to instil because attackers have to change their mindset… It is about working as a team.”
Such a statement might have sounded aspirational last year, but now it feels fully realised. PSG’s pressing has become synchronised, their transitions swift yet controlled, and their defensive structure unyielding.
A notable example was the way they stifled Arsenal’s dangerous attack in Paris, neutralising a side known for its creativity.
Champions League Final in Munich: Symbolism and Stakes
The final, set to be held in Munich – a city that has always produced a new winner each time it has hosted the Champions League final – could offer PSG a historic opportunity.
The club has come close before, most notably in 2020 when they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. This time, however, they arrive as a team, not a collection of stars.
For Enrique, 55, this could be a crowning achievement of a career already glittering with silverware. But more than that, it would be the ultimate vindication of his methods – a reward not just for tactical nuance but for shifting PSG’s ethos from ego to effort, from brilliance to balance.
Mbappé’s legacy at PSG is secure, but ironically, it’s his departure that has allowed the club to forge a new path. In moving away from a superstar-centric model, PSG may have finally built a team capable of conquering Europe.
As Enrique put it earlier this season: “We did that last season but we are better this year.” And heading into the final, few would argue otherwise.
