After nearly 15 years of significant investment from their Qatari owners and a necessary pivot from acquiring high-profile superstars, Paris Saint-Germain approaches Saturday’s Champions League final against Inter Milan as the frontrunners to clinch the prestigious trophy for the first time.
Historically known for their dramatic failures in crucial Champions League matches, PSG has undergone a remarkable transformation this season, featuring an exhilarating young squad expertly guided by Luis Enrique that has captivated Europe.
Once viewed with scepticism by football fans across the continent for their domestic dominance, bolstered by vast financial resources—PSG has just secured its 11th Ligue 1 title in 13 years and its eighth French Cup in a decade—they now garner respect from rivals. “This is the most complete team we have faced,” remarked Arne Slot, whose Liverpool side was eliminated by PSG in the last 16 in March.
PSG’s journey to European domination commenced in 2011, when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over a club in crisis.
This investment quickly propelled PSG into the ranks of the top 10 richest clubs in Europe, with a meteoric rise ever since.
More than €2 billion (approximately A$3.5 billion) has been poured into player acquisitions, and by last year, PSG’s annual revenue exceeded €800 million, making them the third-richest club globally, following Real Madrid and Manchester City, according to Deloitte analysts.
Those two clubs are the most recent Champions League winners, while PSG’s sole appearance in the final to date occurred in 2020, when they succumbed to Bayern Munich behind closed doors in Lisbon during the Covid pandemic.
Nasser al-Khelaifi, PSG’s Qatari president, initially claimed the club would secure the Champions League title within five years of the acquisition.
This goal eluded them, even after signing both Neymar for a record-breaking €222 million and Kylian Mbappe in the same summer of 2017, which also failed to yield Europe’s most coveted prize.
In fact, PSG regressed further following the arrival of Lionel Messi in 2021.
Shift in strategy
“This is a trophy the club has long desired, but winning it is incredibly challenging,” asserted Pedro Miguel Pauleta, a notable PSG forward from the early 2000s.
The foundation for their current success was laid in 2023 when the injury-plagued Neymar and the weary, uninspired Messi departed.
That summer heralded the arrival of Luis Enrique, who replaced Christophe Galtier as the eighth coach during the Qatari era.
With record goal scorer Mbappe leading the line, PSG reached last season’s Champions League semi-finals, where they were defeated by Borussia Dortmund.
Despite Mbappe’s public declaration of his intent to leave, Luis Enrique firmly believed that the team would benefit from his absence.
“Last season, we were also a proper team. I promised improvement, and new players joined. All the statistics indicate we are a better team now,” the Spaniard stated last week.
Driven young squad
The former Barcelona manager sought a youthful, dynamic, and ambitious squad to realise his favoured footballing style, successfully recruiting some of the world’s most promising talents.
Defender Willian Pacho, midfielder Joao Neves, and forwards Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have proven exceptional signings.
Under Luis Enrique’s guidance, Ousmane Dembele has evolved into a sharp finisher, netting 33 goals this season.
Adding to the mix, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia joined from Napoli in January, and the squad’s eldest player is now Marquinhos, who is 31.
“We have the talent to win the Champions League this year, next year, or even in eight years. We are building a solid foundation for a great team for the future,” Khelaifi mentioned during a recent interview with German media.
“The new star at Paris Saint-Germain is the team itself, and I am immensely proud of how we have transformed the club’s philosophy in such a short period.“
In fact, one could argue that the coach is the real star, and now it is his responsibility to deliver in Munich.
“Our preparations started when we commenced pre-season training. It has been on everyone’s mind since then,” he commented last weekend.
“This is a match we have highlighted on the calendar. We are entering it in excellent form, filled with confidence, and determined to etch our names in the club’s history.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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