Lothar Matthäus, 1990 FIFA World Cup winner and German legend with Inter Milan, talks to L’Équipe about the transformation of Paris Saint-Germain under Luis Enrique. Long criticized on the other side of the Rhine for its star-based model, the PSG 2024-2025 version is now attracting interest even in Germany, where its image has radically improved.
Matthäus: “There are no longer the oversized egos that used to make the club’s image often detestable”.
“In Germany, I’m meeting more and more people who don’t hesitate to wear the Paris jersey in the street. This team exudes confidence, and you can see that everyone is fighting for each other. There are no longer the over-inflated egos that used to make the club’s image often detestable.”
Lothar Matthäus no longer hides his admiration for the current PSG, whom he considers to be the Champions League favourites since their elimination from Liverpool. For the 63-year-old former midfielder, the key to change lies in a collective attitude.
This new PSG, buoyed by the strength of the group and a rediscovered identity, has been able to shrug off criticism of its past as a “club of egos”. The Luis Enrique effect, which has united the dressing room and imposed collective discipline, has been hailed by other figures in German soccer. This turnaround, which has brought the club closer to its supporters and has even attracted international acclaim, embodies the transformation of a PSG that has become a model of cohesion and efficiency.