PSG Kicks Off New Season with Ambitions for More Trophies
One month after concluding their most successful season to date, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) begins the new campaign with the opportunity to secure yet another trophy.
The French club achieved a historic Treble last season, which included their first Champions League title. However, they faced a setback, losing 3-0 to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final held in New Jersey last month.
Now, the European champions are set to face another London team, Tottenham Hotspur, as they compete for the UEFA Super Cup in Udine, Italy.
PSG showcased outstanding football last season, characterized by a young and dynamic squad that dominated many matches with their speed, precision passing, and relentless pressing. They appear poised to maintain their dominance in the coming years.
The defeat against Chelsea is hoped to be an anomaly, particularly as it came just six weeks after their remarkable 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in what was deemed the most one-sided Champions League final ever.
In their U.S. tour, PSG also secured 4-0 victories against both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, along with a win against Bayern Munich, despite finishing the match with nine players.
The Trophies...
PSG has the chance to win a joint-record six trophies within a calendar year. The loss to Chelsea eliminated their chance for a historic seventh trophy.
A victory over Spurs would mark PSG's sixth trophy of 2025, following their success in the Trophee des Champions, where they defeated Monaco 1-0 in Doha in January.
PSG clinched the Ligue 1 title on April 5, with six games remaining, and despite losing two of their final four league matches, the trophy was already secured.
The club also triumphed over Reims 3-0 in the French Cup final, completing a domestic Double, before their Champions League victory over Inter secured the Treble.
If they triumph over Spurs, PSG will have the opportunity to contend for a joint-record sixth trophy when they face another continental champion in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in December.
Only Barcelona in 2009 and Bayern Munich in 2020 have previously achieved the feat of winning six trophies in a single calendar year.
That was the maximum trophy count at the time, with the FIFA Club World Cup in its former format being regarded as a precursor to the Intercontinental Cup.
The revamped Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams globally, is now considered a new competition, adding a seventh trophy to the annual stakes.
The Young Players
PSG's rivals may be concerned about the youth of their squad.
They fielded the youngest starting XI in a Champions League final in the 21st century, averaging just 25 years and 96 days, and achieved the largest margin of victory in a European Cup final.
Most players are approaching their peak years, with forward Desire Doue and midfielder Joao Neves both just 20 years old.
The oldest regular player is captain and center-back Marquinhos, who turned 31 in May.
However, Chelsea fielded an even younger team when they defeated PSG at the MetLife Stadium in July.
Best Front Line, Best Midfield, Best Defence, Best Goalkeeper?
PSG appears strong in every position on the pitch.
Their swift attacking trio of Ousmane Dembele, Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pose challenges for any defense.
The midfield, featuring Fabian Ruiz along with Portuguese players Neves and Vitinha, is equally formidable.
On the flanks of their defense, full-backs Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi are considered among the best in the world, often advancing as wingers.
In central defense, Marquinhos, one of the world's elite defenders, partners with 23-year-old Ecuadorian Willian Pacho, who was suspended for the Chelsea match.
In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma is also regarded as one of the top keepers globally, despite being just 26 years old.
How Enrique Binned the Egos and Turned It Around
A significant factor in PSG's resurgence has been the removal of egos within the squad.
Previously, PSG boasted three of the world's best players—Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe—who all sought the spotlight, yet none contributed to the club's Champions League success.
Messi, now with Inter Miami, and Mbappe, playing for Real Madrid, have witnessed PSG's evolution without them, as the French side defeated both of their new teams 4-0 in the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.
While PSG continues to invest in transfers, their focus has shifted towards acquiring talented young players rather than established stars.
Last summer, they signed Portugal midfielder Neves for £50 million from Benfica, Doue for £42 million from Rennes, and Pacho for approximately £42 million from Eintracht Frankfurt—all promising talents who were not widely recognized before joining PSG.
Things took a turn for the better with their major January acquisition, Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, for £59 million.
Dembele Finds Top Form
One of Luis Enrique's most notable achievements has been transforming Dembele into a player now considered a leading contender for the Ballon d'Or.
His former club, Barcelona, invested £96.8 million in him but struggled to see his full potential, with his highest goal tally in a season being just 14.
Dembele was previously known for missing a crucial opportunity that could have put Barcelona ahead against Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League semi-finals, a match they ultimately lost.
However, he has since become synonymous with excitement and devastation on the pitch, thanks to a tactical shift.
In mid-December, Enrique deployed Dembele as a number nine instead of on the right wing during a league match against Lyon.
Before this change, he had scored five goals in the 2024-25 season; afterward, he netted an impressive 18 goals in just 10 matches.
"It was genius because everyone saw him as a winger," remarked L'Équipe journalist Pierre-Etienne Minonzio. "He envisioned a new role for him as a false nine, demanding a lot of work from him, and Dembele executed it flawlessly. It's rare to find a number nine who can meet Luis Enrique's expectations."
Dembele concluded the season, including the Club World Cup, with 35 goals and 16 assists across 53 games, earning accolades as both the Champions League player of the season and Ligue 1's Golden Boot winner, alongside multiple trophies.
Could They Become One of the Great Club Sides?
Aside from Marquinhos, Ruiz, and Dembele, who are 31, 29, and 28 respectively, there is little to prevent PSG from maintaining this squad for the next six years.
If they can achieve this and add more talent in the coming years, they could become a formidable force.
Despite earning approximately £78 million in prize money from the Club World Cup, they are not planning any major signings this summer, having learned from past experiences.