How PSG Got Better Without Mbappé

Shifting emphasis from individual to collective is why Enrique's men are Europe's form team

- Dhiman Sarkar

KOLKATA: On May 25 last year, Kylian Mbappé played his last match for Paris St-Germain (PSG), a 2-1 win against Lyon in the French Cup final which completed a domestic double. Then, the world's most feared attacker had left, taking with him all that directness, speed, strength, to say nothing of the 44 goals and 10 assists in 48 matches. Ahead of Saturday's Champions League final, it can be said the departure was a blessing in disguise for PSG.

Luis Enrique had seen it coming. In February 2024, when news broke that Mbappé would finally be joining Real Madrid over a decade after Zinedine Zidane had given him a guided tour of the club, the PSG manager had said: "If everything goes well, I'm convinced we'll have a much better team than this year." A treble at home and being one match away from winning the competition they covet the most, it is difficult to dispute that.

Mbappé was the last of the "flashy bling bling" at PSG. Coined by club president Nasser al-Khelaifi, the term meant dazzling attacking players who contribute little without the ball. PSG had gone down that route, signing Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr to team with Mbappé in front.