PSG won the league thanks to Mbappe's departure.

PSG promises to continue dominating European football in the coming years.

On the morning of June 1st, Kylian Mbappe posted a short message congratulating his former club on winning the Champions League, but deep down, the French striker probably felt a little regretful. However, coach Luis Enrique understands better than anyone the benefits of PSG no longer having Mbappe in the squad. It is precisely because of the departure of the striker born in 1998 that Enrique's PSG has achieved the success it has today.

The redirection

When Luis Enrique took over as PSG's coach in the summer of 2023, he couldn't hide his frustration. He was surprised that many PSG players played too individually and didn't value teamwork. This contrasted sharply with the Spanish coach's philosophy.

“At that time, everything at PSG was somewhat shocking to Enrique,” PSG Sporting Director Luis Campos recalled. PSG’s identity over the past decade had been to recruit stars and pamper these key players so they could shine when the club needed them.

When Campos began working with Enrique, he saw signs of optimism. He noticed changes gradually taking shape under the new coach's guidance.

"If we don't win this year, I believe we will do it next year," Campos declared in May 2024, after PSG's bitter elimination in the Champions League semi-finals.

And as predicted, in the early hours of June 1st in Munich, PSG secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan to win the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. The crucial turning point for that success stemmed from the autumn of 2023. At that time, Enrique was frustrated that the team revolved around Kylian Mbappe, who "never defends" (in his own words), forcing him to adjust the system to minimize the striker's running.

In the dressing room before a match, he once lost his temper and demanded that Mbappe press the opposing center-back. "This is a game!" he yelled at the French striker.

More than anyone else, this coach was the happiest when Mbappe joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. Mbappe's departure last summer not only eased the atmosphere at PSG but also helped Luis Enrique's philosophy to be more effective.

The entire team now presses in unison. Before the final, the PSG coach commented: “If you analyze the improvement in our defense, it lies in how the forwards defend. They do very well, you can see the number of times they recover the ball. This is the most difficult thing to implement because the forwards have to change their mindset.”

Enrique not only changed PSG's playing style but also transformed the mindset of the club's star players. This helped PSG end their drought of European championships.

Coach Enrique is the key factor in PSG's success.

Sweet fruit

Paris Saint-Germain finally lifted their first-ever Champions League trophy after a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan. It was a historic night, but considering PSG's journey throughout the season, the French team deserved all the success.

Inter Milan, under the guidance of coach Simone Inzaghi, were completely helpless against PSG's relentless attacks. They couldn't find a way to escape the pressing and frequently made mistakes when building up play from the back.

Goalkeeper Yann Sommer was constantly under immense pressure whenever he had the ball. An image on the big screen showing Inter fans breaking down in tears became a symbol of the Italian team's disappointment.

However, Inter wasn't the only defeated team to feel overwhelmed by PSG's pressure this season. Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Liverpool all understand the feeling of facing a PSG team that plays such a dynamic attacking style.

And nothing could be sweeter than achieving that in their first season without any "superstar" players in their squad.

PSG's 5 goals in the Champions League final: In the early hours of June 1st, PSG shone brightly and created the Champions League final with the biggest margin of victory in history.