Paris Saint-Germain used to be known as one of the most ambitious teams in Europe thanks to the strong financial backing from Qatari owners. However, this season, PSG seems to no longer maintain that position.
The recent 0-1 defeat to Bayern Munich has pushed the French team down to 26th place in the Champions League rankings. With 3 remaining matches against Red Bull Salzburg, Man City and Stuttgart, the possibility of the Parc des Princes team winning a ticket to the next round is more fragile than ever.
Manager Luis Enrique has repeatedly insisted that PSG are in the process of rebuilding. However, the team's performances have been more inconsistent than progressive. The glory days of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Sergio Ramos are over, but the change seems to have gone too far. The Ligue 1 champions are lacking in cutting edge and efficiency, as evidenced by their three goals in five Champions League games this season.
After the defeat to Bayern, the French press did not spare criticism of PSG. L’Equipe called it a “degradation” and described Les Parisiens as a club that “no longer exists” in Europe. The reason was pointed out not only in the players but also in the tactics and approach of coach Luis Enrique, who has only won 6 out of 17 Champions League matches since taking charge.
The game at the Allianz Arena saw PSG without a true centre-forward, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola given the responsibility up front but failing to provide much of a threat.
Besides, other strikers coming off the bench like Gonçalo Ramos and Marco Asensio did not fare much better. The situation even became worse when Dembele received a red card at the beginning of the second half, putting PSG in a difficult position.
Not only did they lack individuals who could make a difference, the Paris team also showed a clear inferiority to Bayern, both in terms of individual skills and organizational ability. Players like Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman of the "Gray Tigers" showed superiority both with and without the ball, something that PSG could not keep up with.
The Parc des Princes side are currently six points clear at the top of Ligue 1, but their European form is a different story. In previous years, PSG were confident in switching between the two competitions, only to fall short at the most crucial moments. This season, however, they have struggled from the group stage.
Luis Enrique may argue that rebuilding takes time and that PSG’s aim is to build a younger, stronger squad for the future. However, patience is a rare commodity in top-flight football, especially when expensive signings like Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani have failed to live up to expectations. The pair have only made two official appearances this season.
Another important factor was the change in goalkeepers. Matvei Safonov, a summer signing from Krasnodar, was given the chance to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma against Bayern. However, Safonov's mistake directly led to PSG's only goal.
The defeat to Bayern is just part of a bigger picture. PSG are not only struggling tactically, but also lacking important mental elements. Luis Enrique, who enjoyed success with possession football at Barcelona, is struggling to apply that philosophy to a team with individuals lacking the experience and quality of European football.
PSG have been knocked out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion in the past, but now they are facing the risk of their most disastrous exit in years. Rebuilding is necessary, but the way things are going and the results so far suggest that the Ligue 1 champions will have a hard time making it in the continental arena.
