2 months ago
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Chelsea opponent
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Once again, Paris Saint-Germain have dismantled a European powerhouse. On Wednesday, in the semifinal of the FIFA Club World Cup, Real Madrid were the victims. This time, the game was over after eight minutes and 14 seconds. Fabián Ruiz (6’) and Ousmane Dembélé (9’) were the scorers. But PSG weren’t done there. Ruiz (24’) and then Gonçalo Ramos (87’) added two more goals to complete PSG’s 4-0 victory over their former teammate Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid. Indeed, for Mbappé, it was a humbling moment; it was after his departure that Luis Enrique was finally able to implement a system that would turn PSG into one of Europe’s most formidable attacking sides.
As the graphic indicates, Real Madrid are just the latest European giant to fall victim to PSG. The Parisians defeated Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate (2-1; 1-0) in the UEFA Champions League before smashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. Like against Real on Wednesday, that match was also over before it began. Then, at the FIFA Club World Cup, PSG opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory over Atlético Madrid. They then defeated Bayern Munich in the semifinal (2-0) before their big victory over Real Madrid. Up next will be Chelsea, and in their current form, PSG will be the favorites going into the final on Sunday.
The only blemish in recent weeks has been the 1-0 defeat to Botafogo. However, the Parisians quickly rectified that result by beating the Seattle Sounders (2-0) in a dominant fashion before dismantling Inter Miami CF with the help of former PSG star Lionel Messi. There seems to be a special irony in the fact that Messi and Mbappé were victims of PSG’s attacking football. Both are brilliant players, but they are also in stark contrast to Enrique’s style of play. “Everyone runs and defends, whether it is an attacker or the goalkeeper behind us,” forward Senny Mayulu said after PSG’s victory over Real Madrid. “You can always hear him behind us. The mentality to never give up, that is something I love about this team.”
PSG better without Mbappé – “We can make another documentary about that”
“Well, we can make another documentary about that,” Luis Enrique said at a media even in Seattle when asked about his style of coaching. The comment was a response to a video released ahead of PSG’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against Barcelona in the 2023/24 season. In the video, Enrique passionately implored Mbappé to improve his pressing game.
“You're a phenomenon, a world-class player,” Enrique said. “Not a doubt. But that's not enough for me. A true leader is someone who, when you can't help us with goals, because the other day you had two high-level players against you, you help us in everything that matters. You take charge and say, 'Guys! The defensive line, stay there, all four. I'm going to take my two teammates. Because when you press alone, it's amazing, but if you also take Ousmane [Dembélé] and [Randal] Kolo Muani, [Bradley] Barcola or [Gonçalo] Ramos or Marco Asensio and set yourself as an example to press, you know what we have? A machine of a team.”
Mbappé, however, never bought into Enrique’s system and instead left the club for Real Madrid to win the Champions League. Last January, PSG then added Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratshkelia, and while Mbappé left for glory, PSG moved on to win the Champions League without Mbappé. What was the secret? “In the end, what I try to do both holistically and individually is that I want my players to grow,” Enrique said. “And if you get to do that individually, we are going to grow overall. If you don’t achieve that, then you end your career as a coach. I need my players to leave their comfort zone to get better.”
PSG under Luis Enrique: Constant press and vertical tiki-taka
There is beauty in the fact that PSG have become Europe’s most complete attacking side after Mbappé left the squad. Without a true superstar in the squad, Enrique was able to build a team that completely buys into his approach. The front line of Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, and super talent Désiré Doué lacks a true.9. Instead, Enrique relies on pure wingers or inverted wingers that have the stamina and athletic ability to press but also take on defensive lines one-on-one constantly. Additionally, PSG can also bring on replacements from the bench. Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Kang-in Lee, and Mayulu would all be starting wingers at any other top European sides. On top of that, in the form of Ramos, Enrique, he can still add a typical no.9 if needed.
That’s not all, behind the attacking line, Enrique has opted to install a midfield three of João Neves, Vitinha, and Ruiz. It is a midfield that lacks traditional roles. Instead, all three are tasked to play everything. The idea behind it is to always play with a high intensity. “Improve the pressure,” Enrique said. “Manage the balls. It is always the same idea on the pitch.” What Enrique has created is a system in which the two lines of three are always creating pressure moments on the defensive lines.
It is the very definition of vertical tiki-taka, which blends the quick passing and possession-based approach of traditional tiki-taka with a more direct, vertical style of play, aiming for incisive passes and attacking through the center of the pitch. It often involves a higher tempo, narrower attacking width, and focuses on play through the middle to create central overloads. It is like Gegenpressing meets tiki-taka. The idea is simple: to create pressure points or problems for the opponent all over the pitch. When executed well, it can overwhelm defensive lines. And PSG, as we have seen several times over the last few weeks, have executed the tactics to perfection.
