Paris Saint Germain are without two players who many presumed to have been hindering the club from achieving success in recent years, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.
Lionel Messi and Neymar left Parc Des Princes in the summer of 2023, and it appeared like their departure was set to signal the club’s renaissance.
However, they seem to be heading downhill, as results haven’t been particularly impressive based on their standards.
Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League has always been their primary target since they clipped their hold on the Ligue 1.
Seeing Manchester City win the continental competition last season pricked something in them, and they tweaked their approach for the coming years.
PSG seemingly dropped their approach of signing ready-made stars, opting to acquire players that would fit into the club’s system and be passionate for the badge.
Lionel Messi exited the club at the expiration of the 2022/23 season and has since joined American club Inter Miami.
Neymar left Paris Saint Germain to join Al Hilal on August 15, 2023, for a fee of €90 million.
Both players were unable to lead the club to the UEFA Champions League title, and their last season in Paris was filled with agitations from fans angry that they weren’t meeting up to the expectations placed on them, despite the staggering wages they received.
Paris Saint Germain remain in la-la land despite change in approach
Anyway, Neymar and Lionel Messi have since become history at Paris Saint Germain, but still, the problems they couldn’t solve persist despite a holistic change in approach.
They have had a shaky start to the Ligue 1 season, as they sit 5th on the table, with 12 points from 7 matches.
In the UEFA Champions League, they sit 2nd in Group F with 3 points, 1 point behind Newcastle United who sit at the summit of the log.
The manner in which Eddie Howe’s side schooled PSG is worth noting, as it was a 4-1 thumping at St James’ Park.
This has led to reactions from many Parisians, who are still gobsmacked over the situation of things at the club.
Since Kylian Mbappe’s reinstatement into the squad, he has shouldered many responsibilities, but it is evident that things aren’t clicking.
Paris Saint Germain made wholesome reinforcements in the summer of 2023, bringing in a potpourri of experienced legs and prospects in the European scene.
They signed Randal Kolo Muani, Manuel Ugarte, Ousmane Dembélé, Lucas Hernández, Bradley Barcola, Hugo Ekitiké, Kang-in Lee, and Xavi Simons. Simons was afterward set on loan to RB Leipzig.
Meanwhile, PSG also signed Milan Skriniar, Marco Asensio, Arnau Tenas, and Cher Ndour. They also acquired Gonçalo Ramos on a free transfer.
The Ligue 1 champions also witnessed the departure of several notable names, including; Neymar and Messi as aforementioned.
Marco Verratti, Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler, Leandro Paredes, and Sergio Ramos, amongst many others, also exited the club.
Paris Saint Germain spent a total of €349.5 million in acquiring new players in the summer of 2023, but the lingering UEFA Champions League headache still persists.
