The last few months have been very turbulent for Paris Saint-Germain’s youth academy and pre-academy. Following tensions and concerns about staff morale, investigations were launched by the labor inspectorate and the club internally to assess the situation. Yohan Cabaye, the sporting director of this section of PSG, was among those targeted. He ultimately kept his position, albeit with a warning. This Monday, he spoke to Le Parisien about this episode and looked ahead with determination.
Cabaye: “Changes create a bit of tension.”
“I wasn’t too bothered because I know who I am. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I didn’t wait for the labor inspectorate or the internal investigation to question myself. (…) We have to evolve over time, and sometimes, changes create a bit of tension.”
Do you feel you made mistakes?
“I always take responsibility and I will never hide.” (…) My colleagues know that my door is always open, that I am always available to discuss, listen, advise, and challenge. On some decisions, I may have gone against what a colleague expected, but always with complete honesty.
Cabaye: “I can look myself in the mirror.”
Didn’t you think about resigning?
I’m not a quitter. When things get a little turbulent, you have to stay grounded. I can’t ask my colleagues to come in with a smile, to put a lot of intensity and determination into their work, if at the slightest storm I just hunch my shoulders and disappear. I know my values and I can look myself in the mirror.
Cabaye: “The most important thing is the present and the future.”
How do you explain the warning you received?
When you’re committed to change, there are very often those who resist. I took a step back from that warning, telling myself that we’re only at 60-65% of having optimized the Campus’s working capacity. The most important thing is the present and the future.
What are the relations like with the first team?
The alignment with the professional team is 100% positive. I talk a lot with Luis Campos, and when it’s not with Luis, it’s with Olivier Gagne. We’re in constant contact.
Is Luis Enrique involved?
I know he has all the information, he watches the matches too, he knows the young players. He gave us some time in December 2024 during a meeting with the coaches; it was fantastic. The idea is to be able to consolidate these kinds of meetings in the future.
Without going into too much detail, Cabaye displays a certain serenity. You get the sense that he doesn’t want to dwell too much on the problems encountered. In any case, even if we understand that questions are being asked, this wouldn’t be the right place to go into a detailed overview of the issues, whether individual or collective.
There’s also a defensive angle, with tensions stemming in part from changes. This doesn’t explain everything, but it’s certainly something to consider. Some people struggle to adapt to modifications and new developments. We’ve seen this several times in recent years in football (the new Champions League, VAR, etc.). And sometimes, change is ultimately seen as a very good thing. Of course, good communication is also necessary for a smooth transition.
It’s also important to remember that Cabaye wasn’t necessarily there to please everyone; his role is also to make decisions for the good of the club. It’s worth noting that some people undoubtedly had good reasons to be frustrated or disappointed. But it’s essential to be open to the arguments of all parties.
The investigations helped to identify some shortcomings, and therefore potential solutions. It is hoped that all of this will lead to an even more effective training program at PSG, while acknowledging the positive aspects already seen in the results.
