By Joao Cunha
The scoreline says it all: the biggest collapse in European club football.
Paris Saint Germain are in turmoil after what has been a disaster of a season. They might have won Ligue 1 for the 6th time in the last 7 seasons, but that is scant consolation for the myriad of failures that have followed the French club. But the enigma that is PSG goes far deeper than just one season. The club’s history is rich with a tradition of not living up to their potential. They have under performed for a long time until the financial takeover in 2011. That history that money has attempted to erase rears its ugly head in Europe and the club’s hierarchy do little to solve the problem at the club. PSG never lacked talent, they have almost always lacked real leadership. The recent history of choking big leads highlights this lack of leadership even more. But where does this culture of imconsistency begin?
A picture of the victorious PSG side who won the Cup Winners Cup in 1996. They reached the final next year only to lose to Barcelona.
PSG prior to the financial takeover of the Qataris were known as a cup side. They were well known for having mid-table league campaigns and had excellent cup runs. They would normally reach a final almost every other year and win a title every few seasons. PSG underachieved despite having legendary players like Rai, George Weah, Youri Djorkaeef, Ronaldinho, and David Ginola. They only won 2 Ligue 1 titles between 1971 and 2011. They won the league in 1984-85 and 1993-94 but failed to consistently challenge for the league until the ownership change in 2011, They were very successful in cup competitions winning the Coupe de France 7 times and Coupe de la Ligue 3 times in their first 40 years of existence. That averages out to one cup every 4 seasons which is pretty good considering the inconsistency of the side in the league. A typical year for PSG prior to the takeover would be 2007-08. In that season the club finished 16th place 2 points above relegation yet won the Coupe de la Ligue final and reached the final of the Coupe de France losing to double winners Lyon. PSG under performed massively in the league yet won a title and qualified for the UEFA Cup, That is the story of PSG until 2011, a team with ups and downs but somehow picked up cups along the way. In Europe PSG were surprisingly successful as they are only one of two French clubs to win a European title. That came in the Cup Winners Cup in 1995-96 where PSG defeated Austria Wien in a tense final 1-0. They also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League knocking out Johan Cryuff’s Barcelona 3-2 in the quarter-finals. The club fell in the semis to AC Milan but they had made a mark in Europe in the 1990’s. The 2000’s were filled with early exits whether it was in the Champions League or UEFA Cup. The underachievement of the club was affecting its performance in Europe and domestically until the fateful day in 2011 when the Qatari Sports Investmentbought the club. Then the team began to win the league with regularity and dominate domestic cups, but the European title they crave is missing. They have had talent but lacked mentality just like before. The inconsistencyt of PSG was only apparent to French football fans prior to 2011, since then it has been shown to the world. Here are examples of their failures.
Demba Ba celebrating scoring the winner against PSG to send Chelsea to another Champions League semi-final.
2013-14 Champions League Quarter-final: PSG defeated Chelsea convincingly at the Parc des Princes winning 3-1, with a stunning goal by Pastore to seal the win. All they had to do is avoid defeat by 2 goals to a Chelsea team that lacked any consistent goal-threat other than Hazard. Chelsea’s forwards that season consisted of an aging Samuel Eto’o, an out-form Fernando Torres, and Demba freaking Ba. Although Ibrahimovic was injured for the second-leg PSG were clear favorites to progress. Chelsea made it 1-0 with a goal by Andre Schurlle off a corner. No problem all PSG had to do was to hold on. Cavani missed a clear 1 on 1 with Cech. Still no problem all they had to do was hold on. 3 minutes from time Chelsea attacked and Demba Ba of all people scored to send Chelsea into the semi-finals. PSG were out to a team who were less talented but had a far better mentality. This would become a theme…
Neymar who scored 2 goals to seal Barca’s progress to the semi-finals.
2014-15 Champions League Quarter-finals: This time PSG knocked Chelsea out at Stamford Bridge on away goals to reach the last 8. (Thanks to David Luiz and Thiago Silva headers) But without Ibra in the first leg PSG were humiliated by Messi, Suarez and Neymar and got beaten by Barcelona convincingly.
Kevin De Bruyne celebrating the goal that sent City to the semi-final over PSG.
2015-16 Champions League Quarter-finals: This was meant to be PSG’s year. Unlike last year they had clinched Ligue 1 before the quarters. They had signed Angel Di Maria to pair up with Ibra and Cavani. They had been in great form all season, they would go on tow win another domestic treble. They had vanquished Chelsea once again this time winning home and away 2-1 with Ibra scoring 3 goals in the tie. They were facing a Manchester City team struggling for form who would finish 4th in the league by their skin of their teeth. (City finished 4th on goal difference over United) PSG were massive favorites for the tie. Yet thanks to defensive lapses and Ibra missing a penalty and some sitters City walked away from the Parc des Princes with a 2-2 draw. A setback but all PSG had to do is beat City and they would be in the semis. But in the most bizzare move of Laurent Blanc’s coaching career he switched from a back 4 to a back 3. City controlled the game without the ball and Kevin De Bruyne scores the winner 20 minutes from time. City won 1-0 and knocks out PSG out of the Champions League. This was actually their high point it would only get worse from here.
Sergi Robnerto celebrating the greatest comeback in Champions League history. His gooal sealed PSG;s fate.
2016-17 Champions League Round of 16: Ibrahimovic was gone and Blanc was fired as manager. His replacement Unai Emery had success in the Europa League. It looked like a great move after the first leg. PSG behind a remarkable performance by the entire team destroyed Barcelona 4-0. Draxler, Di Maria, and Cavani laid waste to Barca in Paris and left no hope it seemed to the Catalans. After all until this tie NO TEAM had come back from a 4-0 deficit to win a European tie. So PSG was a lock to progress right? No this is PSg and they found a way to mess it up. Barca were rampant and got off to a quick 2-0 lead. PSG should have had a penalty on Mascherano’s handball but at half-time they were still in good shape. Then Barca made it 3-0 and things looked scary…until Cavani scored the away goal! At that point Barca needed 3 more goals to progress. PSG could have had a penalty and Di Maria missed a sitter. But at the 83rd minute PSG were safely through. Then Neymar scores a free-kick…then the ref gives a non-existent penalty and Neymar buries it. Suddenly Barcelona are one goal away from the miracle. But here’s the thing at this point even with all the poor defending, bad ref decisions PSG would still go through on away goals. But on the last kick of the damn game Neymar finds Sergi Roberto and he scores to send Barcelona through. PSG had blown a 4-0 lead in the first leg AND a 3-goal lead with 7 minutes left to play. PSG would fail to win the league for the first time since 2012 while their rivals Monaco reached the semi-final. But wait it doesn’t end there…
Marcelo celebrating his goal against PSG pointing to Real’s badge. He was instrumental in eliminating PSG in the 2017-18 Round of 16 tie.
2017-18 Champions League Round of 16: This time PSG had their most loaded team yet. They added Neymar and Mbappe to compliment Cavani in their attack. They had signed Dani Alves who was decisive in Juve reaching the previous season’s Champions League final. They had set a record for most goals in a group stage, they beat Bayern 3-0 at home earlier in the tournament and won 5 of their 6 group games. Their opponents were a battered out of form Real Madrid side. Real at the time of the first-leg were 4th in La Liga and were dumped out of the Copa del Rey to freaking Leganes. Real may have been the two-time defending European champions but they didn’t play like it all season. PSG were massive favorites. PSG dominated the game in the Bernabeu and took the lead through Rabiot. However Emery’s decision to start Lo Celso backfired when the midfielder gave up a penalty which Cristiano Ronaldo converted. PSG dominated the second-half forcing Ramos and Varane to make remarkable clearnces. Navas made crucial saves and PSG could have had a penalty on a Ramos handball. But the score was 1-1 with 9 minutes remaining which was good enough for PSG. But then they collapsed…as Ronaldo and Marcelo scored two crucial and fortunate goals to seal a 3-1 win. PSG still had a chance but Neymar was injured and out for the second leg. However Real wouldn’t have Kroos, Modric available as starters so the sides were even. PSG had to win 2-0 to progress but they wilted again allowing Real to dominate them and win the game 2-1. Veratti lost his head and was sent off, the team didn’t react well to Real’s pressure. Another early exit but at least PSG lost to the eventual Champions League winners. The next elimination would be the most stunning of all…
Rashford ending another PSG season in the Champions League with a fantastic penalty under pressure.
2018-19 Champions League Round of 16: Unai Emeryt was fired and replaced by Thomas Tuchel who led Dortmund to a Champions League quarter-finals. They had added Bernat to supplement their full-backs. They won a Champions League group that included Liverpool and Napoli. THIS TIME PSG HAD ZERO EXCUSES. They were facing Manchester United a team that were in good form at the time but were still fifth in England. A team with a massive talent deficit and new manager. PSG outplayed United en route to a 2-0 win courtesy of goals by Bernat and Mbappe. NO TEAM EVER BLEW A 2-0 LEAD AFTER WINNING THE AWAY LEG! Until this tie…PSG gifted a goal to United and then equalized through Mbappe. Then Tuchel’s decision to start Buffon (who never won a Champions League) over starter Areola backfired as Buffon made a mistake and gifted another goal to Lukaku. But at the point PSG are still through. PSG proceed to create good chances, Di Maria, Mbappe, others miss chances. Mbappe slips on a one-on-one but it’s still ok. 3 minutes from time they would progress. Dalot hits a 35-yard shot that would go over the bar but Kimpembe put up his hands and conceded a penalty. At that point you know what HAD to happen…Rashford slots home the penalty. 5 minutes later they are out of the Champions League again. To United who had 11 senior players injured or suspended in the second leg, they lost to a reserve United team. At home by 2 goals. That was the lowest point. The team collapsed in form and Neymar complained about the referees on social media even though ref made the right call. As a result of his complaint he received a 3-game Champions League ban next season. Out of all the defeats this was the most unacceptable. You can argue Real, Barca had better teams, you can argue Chelsea had the better manager and mentality. But THIS United side who were dispatched easily by Barcelona in the quarter-finals should have been put away. This inept display demonstrated the illness that poisons the club. The illness that money cannot cure the illness of choking. They feared United and were ill-disciplined that’s why they lost. It is now starting to seep in their domestic games as well.
Rennes lifting the 2018-19 French Cup defeating PSG on penalties.
The final straw that got me to write this article was PSG’s incredible French Cup final defeat at the hands of Rennes. They were up 2-0 behind goals by Dani Alves and Neymar blew a 2-0 lead and lost the final on penalties. Their weak mentality shone through as Mbappe was sent off for a reckless tackle. When Rennes defeated PSG on penalties it was a just reward for a side that lacked talent but had the intensity, desire, and mental toughness to win the final. To make matters worse for PSG, Neymar punched an opposing fan after the fan made some rude comments. Neymar’s arrogance to do that, then call out his teammates for not listening to him sums PSG perfectly. A lot of talent, money, and skill but no character, mental fortitude and class. Neymar is the living reminder that money can’t buy certain things, and he hasn’t been the leader PSG needs. But that isn’t entirely his fault, PSG hasn’t learned from its past and they are repeating the same mistakes as before.
Ronaldinho playing for PSG.
Ronaldinho was the last big Brasiliam superstar to grace Paris and he was remarkable and inconsistent. PSG’s coach at the time Luis Fernandez would reguarly complain about Ronaldinho’s love of Paris nightlife and the fact his holidays in Brasil lasted too long. (Sounds eerily similar to Neymar doesn’t it?) The club didn’t set boundaries and sort of allowed the situation to fester until Ronaldinho left in 2003. The Qatari owners are too close with Neymar, they allow him to visit friends in the middle of the week, miss ACTUAL games when fit to go to birthday parties. Again Neymar should be more professional but it is not up to him to set the tone of the club. The hierarchy of the club needs to put its foot down and create a culture of accountability. Or else Neymar like Ronaldinho before him will take advantage of the situation. The locker-room leaders like Thiago Silva, Edison Cavani also have to do a better job setting the tone. Ibrahimovic for all his faults was a leader that didn’t allow as much of this to happen. It is no coincidence since he left PSG haven’t even reached a Champions League quarter-final. Ibra set the tone of a winning culture as much as the money did. But without him they haven’t won as much domestically as they have lost the league in 2017 and both domestic cups in 2019. While Ibra in the previous 2 seasons won the French domestic treble and never failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. I am not saying that ibra was perfect far from it but at least PSG were consistently good with him. They might have underachieved but they had an identity. What is PSG’s identity now? Spending huge sums of money? Choking when they have the slightest bit of adversity? They don’t really have one. Say what you want about Chelsea and Manchester City they have built an identity. City with an attacking team built by Pep Guardiola, and Chelsea built theirs with a defensive steel under Jose Mourinho 15 years ago. PSG because they don’t have a past to look back on can’t build one. They have relied on talent to bail them out rather than structure. That can work see Real Madrid. However even Real have a winning history and commitment to attacking football to keep their stars in line. PSG don’t have that and they are paying for it. Until PSG create an identity and construct a winning culture from the top down, they will be European club football’s eternal underachievers. And the collapses of recent years will become the norm.
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