In December 2024, the French sports daily L’Équipe published a scathing motion of no confidence against Luis Enrique, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach.

The Parisians stood on the brink of elimination in the group stage of the Champions League, and the pressure on the Spanish manager was immense.

Critics clamored for his dismissal, convinced that the project was doomed.

Yet, while the media and fans were ready to crucify him, Luis Enrique quietly doubled down on his vision.

Months later, PSG had risen from the ashes to become one of the most feared teams in Europe.

Their new style was offensive, lethal, and effective, propelling them to fight for their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.

This transformation was remarkable, especially considering the seismic changes the club endured.

When Kylian Mbappé left Paris, many dismissed PSG as no longer a serious contender in Europe.

After all, the club was losing its all-time top scorer and arguably the best player in the world.

PSG still boasted world-class talent, but lacked a clear offensive reference point.

Luis Enrique, however, was convinced the team would be even better without Mbappé.

And indeed, the new PSG not only scored more goals but also functioned more cohesively as a unit.

From Chaos to Cohesion: The Early Years

Not so long ago, PSG was a club obsessed with signing the best stars and handing them the keys to the kingdom.

This star-driven strategy failed spectacularly on the pitch and caused internal conflicts and locker room wars.

The club’s ultras even booed their own stars and went as far as visiting Neymar’s home to demand he leave the team.

Neymar himself admitted to tensions with Mbappé, especially after Lionel Messi’s arrival, feeling that the Frenchman was jealous of the Brazilian-Argentine relationship.

The turning point came when PSG’s leadership decided to abandon this failed star-centric approach and start anew, aiming to elevate Paris to the pinnacle of football while erasing a controversial and tumultuous past.

A Historical Shift: The Qatar Takeover

PSG’s story changed forever in 2011.

Before then, the club was inconsistent in Ligue 1 and only occasionally appeared in European competitions.

Their glory days dated back to the 1990s, highlighted by winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996 — their only continental title to date.

However, the 2000s brought financial crises and even threats of relegation.

Despite this, the club had strong support, being the city’s flagship team with stars like Ronaldinho maintaining media attention.

Nicolas Sarkozy, then French president, sought solutions to save football in Paris.

A pivotal meeting in December 2010 between Sarkozy, Michel Platini, and Qatari officials led to Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup and the acquisition of PSG by Qatar Sports Investments.

This marked the start of a new era.

PSG went from spending less than South American clubs to becoming the world’s biggest spender almost overnight.

Stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi, Edinson Cavani, and even David Beckham joined, turning PSG into a global football brand.

On the domestic front, PSG dominated Ligue 1, winning four consecutive titles after the takeover.

But in Europe, despite a star-studded squad, collective success eluded them.

The Emery Era and Tactical Discipline

In 2016, PSG hired Unai Emery, a Spanish coach renowned for tactical discipline and knockout-stage strategies.

Emery’s PSG instilled fear in Europe, famously thrashing Barcelona 4-0 in a Champions League tie.

But the joy was short-lived.

Barcelona overturned the deficit with a historic 6-1 comeback at Camp Nou, crushing PSG’s dreams.

Meanwhile, Monaco shocked France by winning the league with a young Mbappé shining.

Emery’s tenure ended amid frustrations, and Neymar’s arrival in 2017 shifted the project’s focus to the Brazilian star.

Neymar dazzled with moments of magic, but PSG still stumbled in the Champions League, losing to Real Madrid in the round of 16.

The Tuchel and Pochettino Years

Thomas Tuchel succeeded Emery in 2018, bringing an attacking style and leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League final in 2020.

However, the final ended heartbreakingly with a narrow defeat to Bayern Munich, a game marked by PSG missing clear chances and internal tensions, especially involving Mbappé.

Tuchel’s relationship with the club soured, and he was dismissed in 2021.

Mauricio Pochettino took over, offering a more player-friendly approach.

PSG knocked out Barcelona and Bayern but fell to Manchester City in the semifinals, highlighting the gap in collective strength.

Despite domestic dominance, PSG’s European ambitions remained unfulfilled, and the revolving door of coaches reflected deeper structural issues.

The Arrival of Luis Enrique and the New Vision

By 2024, PSG’s management realized that throwing money at stars was not enough.

They sought a coach who valued collective discipline over individual brilliance.

Luis Enrique, despite criticism for his confrontational style and past issues with stars like Messi, was seen as the perfect candidate.

Enrique was known for prioritizing team cohesion and tactical rigor.

He wasn’t afraid to bench stars if they didn’t fit the system.

This was a stark contrast to PSG’s previous culture of star worship.

His early days were rocky.

The team struggled in Ligue 1 and Champions League, losing to Newcastle 4-1 in the group stage.

The media called for his head, and rumors of dressing room unrest swirled, especially after disciplinary actions against Ousmane Dembélé.

However, Enrique remained focused, even sleeping at the club’s training facilities to fully immerse himself in the project.

His relentless work began to bear fruit as PSG went on a five-month unbeaten streak.

Tactical Mastery and Collective Strength

A key tactical innovation was assigning intense pressing responsibilities to all players.

Unlike the Mbappé era, where the star had freedom to attack but little defensive work, Enrique demanded collective effort.

The midfield trio of Vitinha, João Neves, and Fabián Ruiz became the team’s engine, orchestrating play with precision.

Fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi provided width and attacking thrust, often scoring crucial goals.

Ousmane Dembélé reinvented himself as a false nine, becoming the league’s top scorer, surprising even Enrique.

The winter transfer window saw the addition of promising talents like William Pacho and Deiré Doué, strengthening defense and attack.

PSG’s style became ultra-offensive but balanced with tactical discipline, suffocating opponents and generating abundant scoring opportunities.

The Triumph Over Liverpool and Beyond

PSG’s true breakthrough came in the Champions League round of 16 against Liverpool.

After a tense penalty shootout, PSG advanced, having dominated the tie and leaving Liverpool’s coach stunned by their footballing quality.

Though the semifinal loss to Borussia Dortmund was disappointing, the club’s president publicly backed Enrique’s project, signaling trust and stability.

A New Era for PSG

Luis Enrique’s PSG is no longer about star power but about unity and identity.

The departure of Mbappé, once seen as a huge loss, allowed Enrique to gain total control on the pitch.

PSG’s transformation is a testament to the power of collective discipline, tactical innovation, and strong leadership.

The team is now a well-oiled machine capable of challenging Europe’s best.

As the 2025-26 season unfolds, all eyes will be on Paris to see if Enrique’s daring plan can finally deliver the elusive Champions League trophy and cement PSG’s place among football’s elite.