The collective, PSG’s new lethal weapon

Kylian Mbappé has achieved his dream of joining Real Madrid. PSG, for its part, is perhaps in the process of fulfilling its own: surviving the departure of its star and his 40 goals per season. For its first match at the Parc des Princes on Friday evening, the capital club put on a magnificent show for Parisian supporters to open the second day of Ligue 1. Driven by sparkling individualities, disconcerting offensive efficiency and, above all, a brilliant team, the reigning French champions logically blew Montpellier HSC away in a big way (6-0). All without a number 7. Lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and the returns of Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola in the starting eleven, PSG also took the opportunity to send a message to the competition.

An entire collective to make people forget Mbappé

So of course, it is not time to jump to conclusions, especially given the indigestible performance offered by MHSC. However, the performance of Luis Enrique’s men cannot be minimized and must be praised. Unpredictable, omnipresent in counter-pressing, technically correct, realistic and generally solid on the defensive side, the Parisian team seems to have perfectly integrated the Asturian’s playing principles. “Yes, it was a perfect evening, especially for the first day we met our supporters again. For our return to the Parc, we played a very, very complete match, in attack as well as in defense.”the person concerned was pleased to say at a press conference. And for good reason.

In addition to the offensive festival achieved and the flattering statistics of this match (69% possession of the ball, 27 shots, 11 on target, 22 chances, 6 goals), PSG especially showed part of its new DNA. A united collective where everyone makes the extra effort. A group where the individual puts himself at the service of his partners and where the ball circulates quickly and well. An observation necessarily relatively far from that formulated at the same time, last season, when Paris seemed globally dependent on the Hakimi-Dembélé connection and the efficiency of Mbappé. Now freed and given confidence by this new positive dynamic, the Red and Blue stand out, today, by this capacity to surprise, and this regardless of the player.

Luis Enrique is over the moon

“I think you didn’t see one star but sixteen who came to defend the colors of Paris Saint-Germain. Sixteen stars in attack and sixteen stars in defense. That’s perfection. That’s what we’re looking for.”confided, in this sense, the Spanish technician, also satisfied by the balance found. “I felt that during the week and tonight. The level and intensity of the pressing was increasing. We saw it tonight, we scored 6 goals but we could have scored 10. It’s probably the only team with which I can play with 7 attacking players who come back, who work defensively. They also play width. With these players, we can change everything, for me, it’s really great.”. A new face that is so attractive and logically translated into the figures (10 goals scored, 1 conceded).

Deprived of Gonçalo Ramos, who is out for the next three months, PSG also proved that it has inexhaustible resources. In a number 9 role, Marco Asensio has, in fact, shown himself to his advantage. A goalscorer, the former Real Madrid player has especially actively participated in his team’s game by regularly scoring. Enough to consider him a reliable alternative in this position in the coming weeks? Difficult, for the moment, to be sure. One thing is certain, with this PSG, the danger now comes from everywhere and no longer from a single man. Since the restart, Barcola has, in this capacity, 3 goals while Dembélé has totaled 2 assists and a goal. For his part, Kang-In Lee has found the back of the net twice.

Precious against MHSC, Achraf Hakimi can boast a goal and a caviar. Warren Zaïre-Emery, Randal Kolo Muani and Marco Asensio having each scored a goal after two days. Finally, what can we say about Joao Neves… already author of 4 assists, three more than Gonçalo Ramos and Nuno Mendes. “I try to convey to everyone what I feel as a coach, that is to say, being able to benefit from a very, very high-level squad. You have to wait until the end of the season and see what the team has done to see the evolution. But I benefit at each training session from a very complete, very versatile squad that really wants to make history.”finally concluded Luis Enrique, delighted by this first at home. It will now be necessary to confirm this change of direction, next Sunday, on the pitch at Lille.