FlashFocus: The Power of Unity: PSG’s Journey Towards a Historic Treble

On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain will seek to etch their name in history at the Allianz Arena by attempting to secure their first Champions League title, a goal that has become an all-consuming ambition for Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) over the years. This match also presents an opportunity to achieve their inaugural treble. Should the capital club manage to complete the perfect season, it will be more about the collective spirit rather than the stardom of individual players.

Winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophee des Champions has become commonplace for Paris Saint-Germain over recent seasons. It’s during the years they fall short of claiming all three trophies that management faces criticism.

Nevertheless, the 2024/25 season has proven to be exceptional. PSG have reached their second Champions League final in five years and could be on the brink of securing what many would deem a ‘genuine’ treble.

The club’s success can be attributed particularly to two figures: coach Luis Enrique, who has shaped a squad brimming with champions, and Luis Campos, the new sporting adviser for QSI.

Campos’ Impact Behind the Curtains

Sporting adviser Campos, the mastermind behind PSG’s revamped approach, saw his contract extended until 2030 on Thursday. This move highlights the club’s new emphasis on team unity rather than individual superstars as they prepare for another Champions League final against Inter Milan.

It’s uncommon for clubs to grant such a lengthy five-year extension to a sporting director or adviser; typically, they favour short-term agreements. Yet, this extension serves to reward the shift in strategy initiated in 2023 with Enrique’s appointment: a departure from the ‘stars and glamour’ policy towards fostering a culture built on team cohesion.

Campos has played a pivotal role in the squad’s significant transformation, which became necessary following repeated shortcomings in the Champions League. When he came on board in 2022, the Portuguese adviser had to navigate the conclusion of the Messi-Neymar-Mbappe era. Simultaneously, he began injecting youth into the squad, complemented by a few seasoned players.

The philosophy for PSG was to “cultivate their own stars”, as coach Enrique put it. Campos sought players who would join PSG to play for the club rather than for Paris itself, resulting in the signing of talents like Joao Neves.

A strong bond of trust between Campos and Enrique has been central to PSG’s revival. In numerous press briefings, the Spaniard has reiterated his desire to continue their collaborative journey.

But how does Campos perceive his daily responsibilities? Speaking to students at Sorbonne University in November 2023, he shared: “As I approach 60, with 18 years in professional football, I advocate every single day for an idea: a team is a jigsaw puzzle comprising 22 to 24 pieces.”

“The concept is straightforward: there’s a foundation of at least one strong player in each position, alongside young talents prepared to develop. Above all, one quality should be indispensable for all players: intelligence.”

Enrique’s Coaching Philosophy

For years, PSG have faced criticism concerning their team’s conduct—often justifiably so. The club, under QSI ownership, has garnered a negative reputation for being highly individualistic, lackadaisical in their efforts, and misbehaving both on and off the pitch; they’ve struggled to establish a robust team culture.

Nonetheless, coaches from Carlo Ancelotti to Christophe Galtier have attempted to implement strategies promoting collective effort over individualism, albeit with mixed success. Salvaged memories stem from the likes of Laurent Blanc’s team in the 2015/16 season, Unai Emery’s in 2016/17, Thomas Tuchel’s campaigns between 2018 and 2020, and Mauricio Pochettino’s in 2021/22.

Each time, certain personalities overshadowed the greater collaborative effort. Ultimately, the dynamics within the Parisian dressing room rarely conveyed a united front. Following a string of failures in the Champions League, management initiated a new chapter with the exits of Lionel Messi and Neymar in the summer of 2023.

This change dovetailed with the arrival of Enrique—a coach known for his technical and human demands—tasked with adopting a more radical style than that of his predecessors. No more compromises: the Paris squad was required to adhere to the directives of a manager intent on introducing a specific playing philosophy: positional play. Since then, PSG have displayed unprecedented coherence and success.

Dembele Aiming for the Ballon d’Or

The results thus far are impressive: two consecutive domestic trebles for PSG and a path to the semi-finals and then the final in Europe. This season, they have shown dominance in Ligue 1, with their first defeat arriving only before the Arsenal semi-final against Nice.

The capital club had aimed to accomplish what no other European team had achieved in the five major leagues: to finish the season unbeaten. Alas, that ambition will remain unrealised this time around, but the potential outcome may be worthwhile if they clinch their first Champions League trophy.

If there’s one area where PSG has made significant headway this season, it’s in their mental resilience. Ahead of a crucial match against Manchester City in January—which could have resulted in elimination had they lost—the Parisians had suffered defeats to Arsenal, Bayern, and Atletico Madrid during the league phase of the competition.

Despite showcasing solid football and a clear identity, they struggled to convert chances into goals. Nevertheless, Enrique and his players persevered, awaiting that pivotal moment that would enable them to find their rhythm at Anfield, Villa Park, and the Emirates.

Ousmane Dembele epitomises this resurgence. After missing out on the squad against Arsenal in October, the Frenchman rekindled his form and confidence months later, becoming the talisman PSG desperately needed.

With back-to-back hat-tricks against Stuttgart and Brest, he found his stride and hasn’t looked back, amassing 33 goals and 13 assists across all competitions prior to Saturday’s encounter with Inter.

Dembele stands as a symbol of an exceptional, cohesive team and has emerged as a frontrunner for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.