PSG after the peak is collapse?

PSG have just won their first Champions League title, opening a new chapter in the club's history. But can the club maintain its top position when its young stars are being eyed by other "big guys"?

Paris Saint-Germain have finally reached their dream of winning the Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain have finally achieved their dream. A resounding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final not only brought home their first major trophy, but also marked a symbolic turning point: the birth of “PSG 2.0” – a youthful, rational and purposeful project that was far more resolute than the flamboyant but chaotic years of the oil era.

But in top-flight football, today's glory is never a guarantee of tomorrow's. And what PSG should be worried about now is not who they have just defeated, but whether they can maintain what made that victory possible.

Liberation after removing the burden of superstardom

There is no denying that winning the 2024/25 Champions League is the most vivid proof of the effectiveness of a “strategic liberation”. No longer Neymar or Lionel Messi walking nonchalantly when losing the ball, Luis Enrique’s PSG are a hungry and mobile pressing machine, where every player – young or experienced – is a cog in a logically operating system.

Kylian Mbappe’s departure – which seemed like a blow to ambition – has in fact opened the door to a purer brand of football. No longer revolving around a star, PSG are now a team in their own right. The way they “crushed” Inter spoke not only of their superiority in terms of personnel, but also of their tactical preparation at a high level.

But football, after all, is a cyclical game. PSG may be at the beginning of an era, but there is no guarantee it will continue if they do not retain the core players who have shaped the current style of play.

Many PSG stars have come into the light.

Bradley Barcola, Vitinha, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué…, this list is like a “menu” of promising young talents that are catching the eye of the big clubs in the Premier League or La Liga. And the irony is: it is the Champions League victory that pushes them into the light - becoming the target of temptations from more traditional footballing backgrounds.

Ligue 1 remains a minus. Despite PSG’s dominance, the lack of competition can leave players feeling “below their level”. Without improving the quality of the domestic league – something that is beyond the control of a club – PSG will find it difficult to retain young stars long-term, despite attractive salaries.

There is no denying the randomness of PSG’s journey to glory this season. They have only managed seven points from six group games – a tally that would have eliminated the club under the old format. The change in the Champions League format has inadvertently given PSG an “extra life” – something they have made the most of.

The fragile moments in matches against Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal showed that, although strong, PSG are not invincible. They won thanks to the depth of their squad, a skilled coach, and the brilliance of £60 million new signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - who brought new life to the attack. But will that happen again? Another season, with different draws, unexpected injuries, will PSG still maintain the advantage?

Soft power and the incomplete story

PSG’s biggest problem is not on the pitch but on… tradition. A championship cannot put them on par with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or the English giants in terms of legacy. PSG is still seen as a “nouveau riche” – with money, players, titles, but lacking the historical depth and symbolism to become the “face” of European football.

Luis Enrique may be the trailblazer, but to go far, PSG need more than that.

Luis Enrique may have paved the way, but to go far, PSG need more: an identity that does not depend on people, an attractive football ecosystem that can retain talent, and most importantly – the patience to build. Something they have lost in years of chasing stars.

PSG 2.0 is no mirage. This is a truly strong team - tactically, physically, organizationally and in terms of personnel depth. But they are at a crossroads: either take advantage of this boost to build a dynasty - or continue to fall apart after a few seasons, as they have in the past.

The glory in Munich was a triumph of innovation. But if PSG fail to solve the problem of retaining talent and maintaining their identity, they will forever be just an “emerging champion” – rather than a true icon.

Source: https://znews.vn/psg-sau-dinh-cao-la-sup-do-post1557610.html