Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League journey began in doubt but as the semi-finals loom, Luis Enrique’s side look every bit the threat they once only aspired to be.
When PSG fell to Arsenal in the group stage and scraped through the play-offs in 15th place, few would have backed them to last this long in Europe. Now, seven months on, they stand transformed, reigning Ligue 1 champions and genuine contenders for a historic first Champions League crown.
Their path has been anything but straightforward. After a shaky start, they routed Brest 10-0 in the play-offs before dispatching Liverpool and Aston Villa with clinical efficiency. These wins weren’t just results but rather, they were statements of intent.
Luis Enrique sees a clear evolution. “We are a more complete team and we now want to write a page in history,” he said, reflecting on PSG’s journey since that early defeat to Arsenal. He credits the group-stage struggle for forging resilience: “At first I thought it was detrimental, but in the end it was positive because it helped us progress.”
What’s striking is how PSG have rebuilt post-Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar. No longer reliant on individual brilliance, they’ve embraced a collective ethos reminiscent of their next opponents. “They do everything together,” Enrique said of Arsenal. “Of course, they have top-level players just like we do but they don’t rely on just one.”
