PSG: From spoiled superstar to the hungry fighter

PSG: From spoiled superstar to the hungry fighter

On March 8, 2023, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting Paris Saint-Germain roll. The irony had not escaped the French fans. Choupo-Moting, a basically inconspicuous but selfless player, was released from PSG in 2020 and now scored the second of three goals for Bayern Munich , which the capital club in the round of 16 of the Champions League Rauswerf. His team -mate Kingsley Coman, who also changed PSG free of charge, had scored the first goal.

a disappointing season for PSG

The striker series of the French super club, consisting of lionel messi , Neymar and Kylian mbappé , was far superior on paper. But in a total of three hours and 13 minutes of play in two games, the starting trio failed to score a single goal. The team from the city of the lights had once again failed in the competition that it had wanted to win for years.

fans talk about their hope

"The season was a kind of nightmare for us", PSG-Fan Raphaël Messina told CNN Sports . "We wanted to fall in love with our club again and that the players respect the emblem and the institution." The French association, together with its Qatarian owners, had become known for its high editions and its superstars, more than for the services in the field. "Money was certainly one of the first conditions so that the players come to PSG and sign," explains Messina.

a turning point for PSG

The rescue came four months after this low in Bavaria in the form of a man who was unpopular in Paris up to this point: Luis Enrique . He had in 2017 as a trainer of Barcelona great setback against PSG left many Memory. Nevertheless, fans like Coll and Messina were ready to trust him, provided that the club management would also support him.

a fresh start under Luis Enrique

Less than six weeks after his appointment, Enrique already began to anchor his philosophy in the club. Messi and Sergio Ramos had already switched to Inter Miami and Seville, while Neymar " was sold to al-hilal .

A year later, after a promising Champions League run that ended in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund, the last remaining superstar Mbappé and switched to Real Madrid . Enrique claimed that the team would improve without the French striker, which was considered absurd by many. But there were also signs of stabilization under his direction.

new players, new team spirit

"As soon as we saw that he separated from the Neymars, Messis and Mbappés - and that he also put some players like (Ousmane) Dembélé on the bench because of misconduct - we thought: Finally a trainer who can do what he wants," says Coll. Enrique was right: Mbappés 27 Last season was replaced by three players who were already in the club: Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos, who scored a total of 21, 14 and 10 goals.

a positive development for PSG

In addition to these talents, the team shows with one of the lowest age average in the entire Champions League that PSG is known for its young, committed and likeable players this season - Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Barcola and Doué get a lot of praise. "What has changed is that I am now thinking of a team, not to players," says Coll. "It is a team that we learned."

"That's why we love PSG this season", Messina agrees. "It reminds us a little ... not the old football, but a big collective. They want to fight for the jersey."

challenges by ownership

The biggest problem for PSG is of course ownership. The association belongs to Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), an investment fund that is supported by the Katar government. In the past three decades, Qatar has visibility in the West through various sporting events, including the FIFA World Championship 2022 and the purchase of PSG in 2011, increased considerably. Critics have seen QSI's measures as an attempt to "sports water".

The way to acceptance

"We are an investment fund. We bought the club for 70 million euros. Since then we have received offers in the several billion dollars," al-Khelaifi told BBC Sport in 2022. Despite the missed goals in relation to the Champions League, PSG has certainly built a brand that is known worldwide.

The way to a positive perception of the association requires more than just a good reputation. Experts like Jonathan Johnson argue that PSG can increase its popularity by relying more on French talents: "The more domestic talents in the team, the more likeable the club becomes for other fan bases in France," he explains.

The pressure of the victory

Ultimately, the key to improving the reputation of PSG remains the success on the field. "The profit is so important. The improved perception of PSG could be at risk if you lose in Munich," says Johnson. A victory could not only bring the first Champions League title, but also herald a whole new era for the club and its supporters.

"I am confident about the team and dare to dream that we can win this title," says Messina. "We saw a lot, cried a lot and enjoyed a lot. And now we may be able to celebrate something together."

If PSG is supposed to write and interpret history on Saturday, the change from spoiled superstars towards a sympathetic collective will be, which the club owners have been dreaming of for a long time.