In Le Parisien, Sidney Govou believes that Paris Saint-Germain is “less equipped” to compete in the Champions League, lamenting the absence of a player of Ousmane Dembélé’s (28 years old) caliber from last season. A harsh assessment based on a single moment in time, far from reflecting the reality of PSG’s summer transfer window.
Govou: “Complicated. Dembélé was extraordinary last year.”
“Do you see PSG winning the Champions League again?
Complicated. Dembélé was extraordinary last year; you need that kind of player now. And this is the second season, Paris has accumulated a lot of matches and expectations are high. There’s a desire to bring them down.”
Govou: “I find PSG less equipped this year.”
“When Bayern Munich came to the Parc des Princes, they didn’t play a group stage match, but a final. And I find PSG less equipped this year. Luis Enrique could have doubled up on every position with quality players.” “
Govou claims that Paris Saint-Germain is less well-equipped than last year, but his assessment seems more like a knee-jerk reaction than a comprehensive analysis. Paris hasn’t lost any key players this summer, hasn’t thinned its squad, and has even strengthened several key positions. To reduce the current era to a defeat against Bayern Munich is to forget that the previous season, everyone predicted PSG’s collapse… before they climbed all the way to the Champions League final.
European dynamics are best understood over the long term, not based on a single poorly executed match. Govou laments the absence of an “extraordinary” Dembélé, but this PSG remains built around strong individual talents and a collective that has already proven its resilience. Judging a campaign based on one Bavarian night is the surest way to be wrong again. And let’s not forget that Dembélé hasn’t disappeared; he’ll be back soon.”
