PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain produced one of the most dominant seasons in French league history despite a record 12 league titles, in disappointing fashion.
Monaco’s 3-2 defeat in Lyon on Sunday gave PSG an unassailable 12-point lead with 3 games remaining. PSG had squandered the chance to celebrate with their home fans by drawing 3-3 against struggling Le Havre on Saturday.
For the first time in years, PSG looked like a genuine team on the pitch this season depending on flashes of genius from their superstars.
But cash spending played a major role in PSG’s success. The Parisian club’s budget this season is as high as Marseille, Lyon and Monaco combined.
Here’s what PSG did:
LUIS CAMPOS
The dominant season bears the footprints of PSG’s strategic adviser Luis Campos, the mastermind who already helped Monaco and Lille build winning groups as a director. PSG lost the league name to Monaco in 2017 and Lille in 2021. Campos sat next to PSG president Nasser. Al-Khelaifi will watch Saturday’s match at the Parc des Princes.
“I am very happy with our professional and personal relationship. I would like to stay at the club for many years with Luis Campos,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said through a translator. “We talked about supply and the future. “
Instead of signing superstars, PSG have focused on adding more intensity to the team. In the past, PSG had more stars but a weak bench, which has become a factor when some key players were injured.
YOUNGER AND VERSATILE
In its move strategy, PSG have ruthlessly rebuilt their squad by replacing declining stars with younger players. The focus has been on signing French players to eliminate the time needed to adapt to a new country. The club has also focused on players who can play positions, which makes it less difficult for the coach to rotate the team.
At the back, PSG moved Juan Bernat forward at left-back by signing Lucas Hernandez and replaced veteran Sergio Ramos by signing centre-backs Milan Skriniar (a player in his prime) and Lucas Beraldo (a promising prospect).
In midfield, PSG saw off disappointing Leandro Paredes and poor Marco Verratti and Georginio Wijnaldum to sign Manuel Ugarte and Lee Kang-in, as well as the more experienced Marco Asensio.
In attack, PSG have opted to update football greats Neymar and Messi with other types of players. The club signed French wingers Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele, who provided more width as Neymar and Messi moved onto the pitch to mingle. Spaces. PSG also sent Hugo Ekitike on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt while signing more physical centre-forwards such as Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani.
IMPROVED DEFENSE
PSG edged Lens by just one point last season but won the title this season, thanks in large part to PSG’s advanced defense. Luis Enrique has made PSG a harder team to beat, conceding 0. 93 goals per game compared to 1. 05 last season. .
The new champions have lost just once in 31 league games this year, compared to seven defeats last season. The fact that young, hungry forwards have an urgency to fill the box has helped the backline.
SUPPORTING ACTORS
PSG scored slightly more goals per game than last season despite the departures of Neymar and Messi.
Replacing Messi and Neymar was going to be a tricky task, especially since they all scored double-digit goals and assists, totaling 29 goals and 27 assists in the league last season.
On paper, this put more pressure on star striker Kylian Mbappe to score goals, but another has helped PSG dish out goals and assists with Ramos, Kolo Muani, Dembele, Barcola and Asensio combining for 27 goals and 22 assists.
The midfielders have stepped up their efforts with Vitinha, Zaire-Emery and Lee adding 11 goals and 10 assists.
NO SERIOUS RIVAL
It took time for the team to solidify. PSG won just 3 of their first seven league games, but then accelerated by winning 8 consecutive league games, snatching the most sensible spot in November.
Monaco, Nice and Brest swapped the lead in the early rounds, but they may stay up front with PSG. PSG took a five-point lead at the halfway point and extended it to thirteen points over Brest in mid-February.
Ultimately, what made the race for PSG’s name so comfortable was the lack of persistent and credible rivals. Lens outperformed last season and did not have a strong enough squad to compete in either the domestic league or the Champions League. Marseille and Lyon have created their own messes by converting coaches and making abnormal signings. And Monaco was in a rebuilding phase and lacked a forged bench to compete.
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