When Luis Enrique took over PSG in the summer of 2023, both Kylian Mbappe and the talismanic Lionel Messi were still at the club. The frustratingly inconsistent Neymar had only recently departed too, as the Parisian’s ‘galactico’ era started to draw to a close.
Enrique has certainly overseen marked change at the club, particularly in terms of the prevailing culture and the profile of players being signed. PSG have now spent €169.92 million this summer on reshaping their squad, with Mbappe finally departed and Messi’s time at the club a distant, almost surreal memory.
Of course, sites like https://www.1win.codes/en/ have made PSG the overwhelming favourites to win Ligue 1 again this season, and they already top the table with two wins from two (and 10 goals scored).
But has Enrique fully transformed the club in his image, and will the side finally achieve Champions League glory in 2024/25? Let’s find out!
Overseeing a Change in Recruitment
PSG have embarked on a whole new recruitment strategy under Enrique, eschewing big name signings in favour of procuring young players who are suited to the Spaniard’s preferred playing style.
19-year-old João Neves has signed for just shy of €60 million from Benfica, for example, while precocious winger Désiré Doué (who’s also 19) has joined from Ligue 1 rivals Rennes for €30 million.
The club has also snapped up the 22-year-old centre back Willian Pacho, who starred for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023/24 and was bought for a fee of around €35 million.
These are all young, hungry professionals who Enrique believes can execute his ideas in different areas of the pitch. They’re also completely devoid of ego and will be more than willing to press, run and recover balls as high up the park as possible, while boasting the technical ability to retain the ball and dominate possession.
Leaving the Shadow of Mbappe
The decision to sell Manuel Ugarte to Manchester United also highlights Enrique’s focus and commitment to creating a more technical PSG midfield.
The young Uruguayan recorded the second-most tackles among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in 2023/24, averaging 4.56 per 90 minutes. He also estimated an impressive 8.42 ball recoveries per game, while winning possession 1.35 times per 90 in Ligue 1. Still, he has been deemed surplus to requirements ahead of the new campaign.
Most importantly, however, PSG and Enrique look much happier and content since the departure of Mbappe. While the talisman’s goals will be missed, his inevitable departure cast a cloud over the club for much of last season, while the striker also struggled to find his best form at home or abroad.
The Parisians certainly looked formidable during their 6-0 thrashing of Montpellier last weekend, with players like Bradley Barcola and Marco Asensio thriving in a fluid attacking display.
Neves also anchored the midfield with distinction and controlled the tempo of the game, as PSG boasted 69% possession, completed 744 passes and struck 27 attempts on goal.
Make no mistake: there’s a sense of freedom and purpose about this new look PSG side, and Enrique must take credit for creating this. However, whether it translates into the ultimate success has yet to be seen!