PSG, Rebooted and Ready, Eager for Success

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), after a reboot, are now on the verge of triumph in three different competitions. What does it signify about the true nature of a football league when a team can endure the absence of star players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Marco Verratti, yet maintain a 12-point lead with only seven matches left to play?

France’s Ligue 1 and Paris Saint-Germain are indeed the entities in question. With Luis Enrique’s team gearing up to face Clermont at the Parc des Princes on Saturday night, the club’s high-ranking officials must be feeling the pressure after aggressively pursuing top-tier players.

The departure of key players, along with Enrique’s appointment in July, has led to significant savings in wages for the club and has resulted in a similar outcome – domestic dominance.

Despite some initial challenges as the squad adjusted to Enrique’s tactics, PSG has managed to pull ahead in Ligue 1. A comfortable victory over Toulouse in January secured them the French Super Cup, and unless a major setback occurs, they are on track to secure their 12th top-flight title within the next two weeks.

In their recent match against Rennes, PSG secured a spot in the Coupe de France final, where they will face Lyon. Lyon, who have managed to climb to mid-table and avoid relegation concerns after a poor start to the season, will be looking to claim their first piece of silverware since 2012 in the final. In contrast, PSG, backed by Qatar, have amassed an impressive 31 trophies during Lyon’s dry spell.

Enrique emphasized the significance of winning cups in any country during his interview with PSG TV after their victory over Rennes. As the former Barcelona manager, who secured three Copa del Rey titles during his tenure at Camp Nou, he expressed that winning the Coupe de France was one of their objectives from the beginning of the season.

Enrique praised the team’s performance throughout the competition and believed that their supporters would be delighted with their achievements. To demonstrate his seriousness about the competition, he included Kylian Mbappé, PSG’s record goalscorer, in the starting line-up.

READ: Mbappe Scores Stunner as PSG win Trophee des Champions

Despite doubts arising after Mbappé’s reaction to being substituted in a previous match, he was given the opportunity to play against Rennes. Although he missed a penalty and had a few other chances, Mbappé eventually scored the winning goal with the help of a deflection.

On the other hand, Clermont, who currently sit at the bottom of the division, face a challenging task against PSG. Despite being aware that they are not the favorites, Clermont’s manager, Pascal Gastien, expressed his team’s determination to fight and not give up. PSG’s owners have been obsessed with achieving glory in the Champions League, which led to the signings of notable players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, and Angel Di Maria.

With the inclusion of Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé, the lack of success has intensified the pleasure derived from others’ misfortune among supporters. Enrique caused surprise at the start of this season’s European campaign by downplaying its significance.

“When an individual or a club becomes fixated on something, it is not a positive sign,” stated Enrique, who led Barcelona to the Champions League victory in 2015.

READ: Strasbourg 1-1 Paris St-Germain: Lionel Messi breaks Cristiano Ronaldo record as PSG win 11th title

“We should remain hopeful and ambitious, but obsession does not yield positive results in any aspect of life,” added the former Spain manager. And there you have it. For the first time since 2021, they have reached the quarter-finals.

However, for Enrique, that is in the past. He is focused on the present. “We have some crucial matches ahead of us, and we are not yet champions, so we must win against Clermont,” he stated in anticipation of the upcoming fixture. “We are in first place, and they are in last. They will give their all, so I want players who are focused on the match against Clermont and not anything else.

” If PSG surpasses Barcelona over the two legs, there are still formidable teams to conquer. However, if PSG fans continue to lament and express frustration after achieving a triple crown of the French Super Cup, Coupe de France, and Ligue 1, it speaks volumes about them.