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The last ten years have brought about unparalleled success for PSG. They have won seven Ligue 1 titles in this period, and they have some of the best players in the world playing for the club. For all the success in domestic competition, they have come up short in Europe. They reached the final in 2020 but the team struggled to impose themselves on the biggest stage. What has caused this lack of success in Europe?
What are their chances of Champions League success in 2022?
They have the players to beat anyone on their day but have shown enough times that there is a definite weakness defensively. However, the addition of Lionel Messi has certainly increased their chances in the eyes of the bookmakers. If you visit Space Casino, you will see they are fifth favourites to lift the giant trophy at the end of the season with odds of 10.0.
PSG face Real Madrid in the next round, and a win against the thirteen-time winners of the competition would send a message to the rest of Europe. It promises to be an epic encounter. Their 2-0 win over Manchester City earlier in the competition could be a good sign.
What do they need to start dominating in Europe?
They are always going to be an attractive proposition for any player, but it will be interesting to see if they can keep Kylian Mbappe. He has the potential to reach a Ronaldo/Messi level of goals. However, he has been linked with a move to Champions League opponents Real Madrid. Like PSG, they see him as a player to build their team around.
There has also been discussion over whether manager Mauricio Pochettino will be at the club next season. Zinedine Zidane is reportedly fancied by the hierarchy to take over and he certainly has the experience of managing a team full of stars and guiding them to success in Europe. No other manager has retained the Champions League trophy.
Does their overall strategy need a rethink?
The signing of Lionel Messi was greeted with incredible fanfare but you’d have to question his overall impact on the team. His stats this season have been well below his usual standards. The Argentinian legend only managed one league goal in the first half of the season.
Signing a player in his prime to replace Thiago Silva (a player that departed in 2020) would have been the preferred option for some. Raphael Varane could have been an option had he not signed for Manchester United, but instead they opted for Sergio Ramos. A defender with great history but perhaps past his best, so many fans argued that signing a younger defender would have been the better plan.
The owners and directors love to be involved with a team full of skill and flair, but is this stopping them from achieving success in Europe? Whatever happens, it promises to be entertaining. There’s never a dull moment at the Parc des Princes.
