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There are victories bought with money, there are victories created by talent. But PSG's victory over Inter Milan in the 2024/25 Champions League final belongs to a different category: a victory of enlightenment.
In the early hours of June 1st at the Allianz Arena, Paris Saint-Germain wrote the most extraordinary story in modern football history. Not because they won 5-0, not because they finally won the Champions League, but because of the way they won. It was a victory of a paradoxical story: PSG had to spend 2.283 billion euros and go through 15 years of failure to learn that success cannot be bought with money.
The most expensive experiment in history
Since 2011, PSG has become the world 's biggest football laboratory. The question is: can success be bought with money? Qatar Sports Investments spent 2.283 billion euros - a figure so huge that it could buy Barcelona and Real Madrid combined - to find the answer.
The result? A series of painful failures. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came and went without leaving a mark on Europe. Neymar, with a €222 million contract, brought only sporadic moments of genius and countless injuries. Lionel Messi, the greatest genius of all time, could not ignite PSG's Champions League dream. Kylian Mbappe, who is considered the future of world football, scored 256 goals for PSG but could not score the most important goal.
Each failure begs the bigger question: why can’t the world’s best individuals create collective success? The answer lies in a simple truth that took PSG 15 years to understand: football is not an individual sport .
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Luis Enrique changed everything at PSG. |
When Luis Enrique arrived in Paris in the summer of 2023, no one expected him to be the man to change everything. Unlike previous superstars, he did not bring with him the glamour or media attention. Instead, the former Barca captain brought with him what PSG lacked most: a clear and unshakeable philosophy.
Enrique understood that PSG made the most basic mistake in modern football: they thought they could add 1+1+1 to get 11. In fact, top football requires harmony, requires talented individuals to sacrifice themselves for the collective.
Enrique’s philosophy is not complicated but revolutionary: instead of putting the stars at the centre, put the system at the centre. Pressing high is not about showing off technique, but about creating collective pressure. Controlling the ball is not about showing off, but about controlling the tempo of the game. And most importantly, exploiting young talent is not about being cheap, but about being able to be shaped by the team’s philosophy.
The 2024/25 Champions League final will see the birth of a truly golden generation. Not one bought for a huge sum, but one built on patience and long-term vision.
Desire Doue, 19, became the youngest player to score twice in a Champions League final since Lionel Messi in 2009. It was no coincidence that Doue shone in the biggest game. He is the perfect product of Enrique's philosophy: good technique, deep understanding of the ball, and most importantly, always putting the team first.
Mayulu, 19, scored in his first final not by chance. This was the result of a systematic training process, where young talent is cultivated not only in technique but also in tactical thinking and competitive spirit.
Vitinha, with 93% passing accuracy and 104 touches, has proven that you don't need to be a superstar to be the backbone of a team. He embodies the Enrique philosophy: simple but effective, humble but important.
Inter Milan entered the final with the advantage of experience and toughness. They were the only team to keep a clean sheet in five of their previous six knockout matches. Simone Inzaghi was considered one of Europe's best strategists. But all collapsed before the power of a perfectly run system.
PSG didn't just win 5-0, they won everything. 61% possession to Inter's 39%. 17 shots to 6. 9 shots on target to 1. This wasn't the result of luck or individual failure, but the expression of a superior football philosophy.
From the first minute, PSG imposed their style of play. High pressing prevented Inter from developing the ball from the back. Fast and precise ball circulation kept Inter's defense in a passive state. And when the opportunity arose, PSG took advantage with near-perfect efficiency.
Expensive lesson
2.283 billion euros. This figure is not just a transfer fee, but the price of a priceless lesson: success cannot be bought, but can be built. PSG had to go through a long and expensive journey to understand that top football is not a parade of individuals, but a chain reaction of collectives.
PSG’s paradox is that they have to have enough money to buy the best players, but also have enough intelligence to know how to use them. Neymar, Messi, Mbappe are all excellent players, but they cannot shine in a system that lacks clarity and discipline.
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Luis Enrique has created a legacy at PSG. |
Luis Enrique proves that the role of a good coach is not to serve the stars, but to create a system where every star serves. This is the fundamental difference between the PSG of the past and the PSG of the present.
PSG's victory means more than just a Champions League title. It is a manifesto for a new model of development in modern football, where money and philosophy are harmoniously combined.
In an era where many clubs are falling into the "Galactico" trap, PSG prove that success can still be achieved in another way. Not by collecting the most expensive names, but by building a unified team with clear goals.
PSG’s success will create a new wave in the approach to football. Clubs will start to focus more on developing young talent, investing in long-term football philosophies, and most importantly, looking for coaches with strategic vision rather than just focusing on reputation.
15 years, €2.283 billion, 19 coaches, dozens of superstars, and countless disappointments. That's the price PSG had to pay to learn a simple lesson: football is a team sport.
Luis Enrique may not be in Paris forever, but he has left behind a lasting legacy. A PSG that understands its identity, a generation of young players nurtured by the right philosophy, and most importantly, a sustainable winning mindset.
Winning the 2024/25 Champions League would not only be the pinnacle of PSG's career, but also the start of a new era. An era where success is not measured by money, but by intelligence and patience.
Finally, PSG found their way home. Not a road paved with gold, but one built with the truest footballing values.
Source: https://znews.vn/psg-2-283-ty-euro-va-bai-hoc-dat-nhat-lich-su-bong-da-post1557341.html
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