DECRYPTION – A look back at the 2023-24 season of Paris Saint-Germain, winner of all the national trophies and who was able to forget a cataclysmic 2022-23 campaign.
“Until the last match is over, there can be no assessment. But to be honest, there will be no assessment after the final either.said Luis Enrique on Friday, on D-1 of this final meeting of the season. “It’s not my job. It is up to Luis Campos and the president (Nasser Al-Khlelaïfi) to do it. The rest is up to you”, he added. Precisely, it is time to delve into the results of this 2023-24 PSG season, the first of the “new era” decreed by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and under Luis Enrique.
Season concluded with a victory over Lyon (2-1) in the Coupe de France final, Saturday, in Lille. Full success on the national scene, after the Champions Trophy and Ligue 1. The prize list is the first point to remember. We must not trivialize the titles, even if PSG has a budget equivalent to twice that of the three other clubs which will support it in C1 next season, Monaco, Lille and Brest, combined. Seven highlights.
A team in Paris
The post-comeback PSG is one of headlong flight. A non-existent sports policy, it was just necessary to support Neymar and Kylian Mbappé as best as possible while avoiding too much titillation of the European financial policeman. All before falling into big nonsense with the arrival of Leo Messi, in 2021. After two appearances in the last four of the Champions League, including a final, the Rouge et Bleu returned to their bad habit, taking the door in 8th. Qatar found its account at the World Cup, and so did the PSG brand. Not the club. Change of scenery last summer, with the idea of a younger PSG, more focused on the collective, a team put together in a more financially intelligent way and which plays. After the gruel seen under Christophe Galtier, the last point was important.
Luis Enrique helped bring new life to PSG. CATHERINE STEENKESTE / REUTERS
The substance and the form, while the PSG house was burning on all floors last year (see below). From this point of view, it is a success. “I saw something I had never seen in 13 years (at the head of the club), everyone together, everyone fighting for each other”, enjoyed “NAK” after Barcelona, in the C1 quarters. That doesn’t mean that everything has been perfect throughout the season, but in terms of the game and the team, it’s the glass half full. The best proof is that the opponents of the capital club have regained their fear. No one was afraid of PSG anymore last season. All the teams came to the Park believing in their luck. “Just pass the first curtain”, blew away many opposing players last year. This time, we generally saw a team in Paris. And this is already a (very) big step forward, even if there are still many projects…
Read alsoThe notes from Lyon-PSG: Dembélé luminous, Mbappé clumsy, Perri almost perfect
A family united again
Last year at the same time, the Parisian supporters couldn’t take it anymore. Players and managers insulted under the windows of the Factory, expedition in front of Neymar’s home, the title of French champion celebrated… outside the Park… Divorce. The patience of the red and blue fans had reached its limits. Which fans are not blind and felt that the club, the team, the players, the decision-makers, had changed course. The departure of some helped in this endeavor, Neymar and Messi in the lead. Still, the PSG family is united again, ready to move forward hand in hand. And when we remember the end of last season, it’s a success.
Read alsoManagement, “Cojones”, alternation… How Luis Enrique’s PSG worked in Ligue 1
We will have to do (much) better in L1 next season
Certainly, PSG achieved a historic performance by becoming the first L1 team to finish a season without any away defeat. But we will undoubtedly have to do much better in 2024-25. This season, Luis Enrique used Ligue 1 as a laboratory, practicing a turnover which made it possible to concern everyone and open up spots for the young titis, but it also cost points. His Paris-SG took 2.24 per match over the season, the same average as during the previous campaign under Christophe Galtier! Since the start of the QSI era, in 2011, Paris has only done worse four times (2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2020-21). Fortunately, the pursuers were not up to par, not for the long term. Next year, clubs like Monaco or Lyon will dream bigger.
Read alsoChampions League: Vitinha good student, Mbappé ends badly, dunces Kolo Muani and Beraldo… PSG notebook
European regrets
In addition to the three titles on the national scene, PSG reached the last four of C1. With such a young and new team, 11 new faces last summer and another during the winter transfer window, we could talk about a real success. This European campaign, however, leaves a bitter taste given the level of the way in which it ended. Two defeats and no goals scored against a Dortmund team well within the reach of this PSG. A PSG which went through a mouse hole in the group stage, with a total of eight points, before dismissing a weak Real Sociedad team and benefiting from a decisive play against Barça, the red of Ronald Araujo. Favorable drawing and aligned planets. The opportunity was great, it had to be seized. And like the L1, we will have to do much better next year to repeat such a performance. Destiny will not always be an ally…
Read also PSG: Dembélé at the top, Lee useful, Ugarte and Kolo Muani disappointing… What results for Luis Campos’ recruits?
A demi-teinte market
€235 million for nothing? Or too little in any case… Last summer’s most expensive recruits, Randal Kolo Muani (€95 million), Gonçalo Ramos (80) and Manuel Ugarte (60) did not come off the bench on Saturday. Players on whom Luis Enrique obviously does not count, their profile not being adapted to his idea of football, especially Ramos and Ugarte. Not used in the North, Kang-in Lee (€22 million) comes into play regularly and speaks the same football as his Spanish coach. Last but not least, he sells as many jerseys as Kylian Mbappé… Still, the summer 2022 transfer window was not a real success. Lucas Hernandez and Ousmane Dembélé have assumed their status, Bradley Barcola is a real revelation. For the rest, Marco Asensio and Milan Skriniar have not demonstrated that they can assume starting status. Arnau Tenas, for his part, should not take advantage of the departure of Keylor Navas to become Gigio Donnarumma’s understudy, according to the latest rumors and the possible arrival of Matvey Safonov. Lucas Beraldo? Let’s wait for the rest.
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Mbappé, the funny season
By offering him a golden bridge to extend, in 2022, and by putting together a tailor-made team last summer, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi thought he had done what was necessary to keep Kylian Mbappé. Missed. The Paris native never saw himself spending his entire career in Paris, with Real Madrid always in the back of his mind. After refusing to activate his option for the 2024-25 season, he announced his choice to “NAK” in February. End of suspense. By sending him to the loft last summer, PSG marked its territory. By depriving him of a proper farewell, by choosing a coach not made to exploit his qualities and who only granted him limited playing time in L1 from February, Paris shot itself in the foot by in terms of image but above all in terms of play. The person concerned is not beyond reproach and there is no good guy or bad guy in this story, just a lot of money, ego and ambition on both sides. ‘other. Nevertheless, the future Madrilenian has scored 44 goals and 10 assists in 47 matches. Solid… Now it’s time for post-Kylian Mbappé.
Also read: PSG: how Vitinha established himself as the strong link in the Parisian environment
Vitinha, this is extra
Last year, we discovered a good little environment, shy and academic. In 2023-24, Vitinha has changed dimension. “Without a doubt, he’s the player of the season for me. Between his play on the ball, his aggression and his defensive abilities, he’s the best on the entire team, and yet, they’re all good. For me, he is exceptional”, Luis Enrique fired up on Saturday. “Viti”, one of the satisfactions of the season. We will also remember the emergence of Warren Zaire-Emery, neo-international and face of the club for the future.
Vitinha, eat a big one. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Achraf Hakimi has finally given the full measure of his talent. We have already talked about Hernandez, Dembélé and Mbappé. The return of Nuno Mendes, injured for a long time, was good. What about Gigio Donnarumma? Excellent in the league, the Italian goalkeeper leaves a more mixed impression in C1… Marquinhos, for his part, has regained his splendor, despite some gaps in the Champions League, such as this poor alignment in Dortmund and this corner offered, on the return . Despite random playing time, Ramos had a good second half of the season. A “supersub” role which allowed him to finish the season as second scorer (14 goals).
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PSG/Marie de Paris, the divorce is complete
On February 8, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi whistled the end of recess. The Parisian president announced that PSG was officially looking for a new stadium. The club wants to buy the Parc des Princes, the Town Hall does not want to sell it or no longer wants to sell it. Dead end. Blurred relationships. Obviously, it’s not that simple. At present, Paris Saint-Germain is far from having found its happiness. Financial means are in any case not the problem. The club is prepared to pay whatever it takes to build its new home. It remains to be seen where. The only info is that «WANT» and company want to stay in the west of Paris. Note that the arrival of a new shareholder, Arctos, is also one of the important elements of the season. A shareholder who is particularly interested in the subject of the stadium.
