Are the new-look PSG serious Champions League contenders?

PARIS – A summer of change has left Paris Saint-Germain with a revamped squad, shorn of some of their biggest stars. But, for now, they remain a work in progress in possibly Kylian Mbappe’s final season in the French capital.

PSG travel to Newcastle United in the Champions League on Wednesday in a tie that is essentially the first meeting of the clubs backed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia respectively.

The French giants already have the upper hand in a tough Group F after

beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0

a fortnight ago, while Newcastle drew 0-0 with AC Milan.

Avoid defeat at St James’ Park and Luis Enrique’s team will stay on course to qualify for the knockout stage.

Yet PSG’s revenue, far greater than that of their group rivals, means they should not be struggling to reach the last 16 and getting beyond that stage has never been the problem anyway in recent years.

The problem has been after that, with Les Parisiens exiting in the last 16 five times in the last seven seasons.

Appointed in July,

Enrique won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015 and his remit is to at least take PSG back into the latter stages, while continuing their domestic dominance.

However, winning the competition “is not something we are obsessed with at all, that’s finished”, insisted president Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently.

“We are in the middle of building a new identity, our own style and way of playing, and a new culture,” he said. “That is what we wanted to do, and results will follow.”

Lionel Messi, Neymar, Marco Verratti and Sergio Ramos were the headline names to leave a club who previously put too much focus on superstar signings.

While Mbappe stayed on into the final year of his deal after a contract dispute that overshadowed the summer, PSG spent huge sums on new faces who should help make for a better-balanced squad around him.

Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele, signed for a combined €140 million (S$201.7 million), are French international forwards who are close to Mbappe.

Uruguayan Manuel Ugarte looks like the sort of combative midfielder they have desperately lacked in recent years.

Enrique has set his side up in a 4-3-3, putting the focus on dominating the ball and aggressive counter-pressing. When it has worked, like in wins over Lyon, Marseille and against Dortmund, PSG have been very impressive.

They average 71 per cent possession in their games, a big increase over last season.

Mbappe is their leading scorer, but their standout player has been Achraf Hakimi.

The Moroccan fullback is not just a threat down the right but has also been given licence to drift into midfield and add creativity there.

Enrique has also shown great faith in Warren Zaire-Emery, the phenomenally talented 17-year-old midfielder, the youngest in a squad where the 11 most-used players have an average age of just 24.

It all makes PSG a different prospect from the last two years, when neither Neymar nor an ageing Messi could be relied on to help out defensively.

This positive change could represent PSG’s last chance to win the Champions League with Mbappe, and Enrique believes there is no reason his team cannot do it.

“We are one of the favourites in the fight for the title,” he insisted.

“In terms of potential, I honestly don’t think any team is better than ours.”

Newcastle, for one, are relative rookies having returned to the Champions League after 20 years.

While his side are underdogs, even playing at home, Magpies boss Eddie Howe is not giving up without a proper fight.

He said: “We’re determined to try to do well, and one thing I’m absolutely certain about is the atmosphere will be as good as I’ve ever experienced here.

“I know the supporters will get behind us and then whatever we do from there will depend on what happens afterwards.

“We’re really looking forward to the challenge. It’s going to be an extreme test, but one that we can’t wait for.” AFP