On the eve of the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Chelsea (kick-off at 9 pm, CET), Le Parisien took a look at Paris Saint-Germain’s image within English football. Chris Waugh, a journalist for The Athletic, highlighted the team’s collective evolution.
“It’s a young team made up of talented players.”
“PSG is no longer seen as a team lacking team spirit, as it was in the era of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé. The perception has changed because it’s a young team made up of talented players. Many Premier League fans would have loved to see Kvara in England. His style of play is phenomenal. Vitinha too, who is one of the best midfielders in the world.”
The comparison is interesting. PSG had immense players, “global stars,” but an unconvincing team dynamic. This was a hindrance in the biggest matches. Paris hasn’t neglected individual talent, but has prioritized the team. It’s now a collective effort strengthened by the talent of its individual players. This makes it more solid, better equipped for the long term, and therefore more formidable. It’s also a style of football that’s more appealing to fans.
Even when Paris is having an off night, you can see that the players are working for the team and that they have this desire to respond together. The fans identify with the team more strongly, and opponents naturally have a different perspective on the club.
