French champions PSG in need of reset in future without Lionel Messi
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Paris Saint Germain's Lionel Messi (left) celebrates with teammate Kylian Mbappe after scoring.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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PARIS – Now that Paris Saint-Germain have completed the job of retaining the Ligue 1 title – following a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg on Saturday – they can focus on the latest rebuilding job in the French capital, where sweeping changes are needed to the faltering Qatari project.
PSG’s 11th domestic league triumph – their ninth in the last 11 years – was secured despite Christophe Galtier’s team losing six games in 2023, while nearest challengers Lens have taken most of the plaudits.
“It has not been our best season but it has still been a good one,” insisted captain Marquinhos recently.
PSG were superb at the start of the campaign. They were unbeaten before the World Cup, when Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar appeared driven by the prospect of the approaching tournament in Qatar.
Yet the unravelling that followed was dramatic, with Neymar again cut down by injury and Messi being suspended for missing training
The mood around the club in recent weeks has appeared sullen, with fans disaffected.
“I understand the disappointment. It has been a very strange season,” Galtier said on Friday.
The coaching job has at times seemed too big for the 56-year-old, who arrived in 2022 in the wake of Mbappe’s decision to snub Real Madrid and sign a new three-year contract.
Under investigation over allegations that he made racist and discriminatory remarks in the past, a new coach capable of commanding the dressing room’s respect is required, and Jose Mourinho and Luis Enrique have been linked with the job.
Mbappe – scorer of 40 goals this season – might wonder now if he made the right choice, although the question of his future is bound to come up again soon.
According to reports, the 24-year-old’s contract will run out in 2024 unless he exercises an option to stay until the year after.
However, PSG must now seek to rebuild with Mbappe the focal point more than ever. The ageing and out-of-contract Messi is expected to depart
Lionel Messi scores for Paris St Germain.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Much has been made of the willingness to focus on younger players hailing from the Paris region, a prolific breeding ground for talent.
The holy grail is the Champions League, in which PSG have gone out in the round of 16 five times in seven seasons.
PSG have been here before, and Nasser al-Khelaifi, club president since the Qatari takeover of 2011, surely cannot afford to get another rebuilding wrong.
Qatari interest in buying Manchester United, via Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, has led to questions about the potential impact on PSG.
With PSG having gone backwards in two years with Messi, it remains to be seen if the latest rebuilding succeeds where past attempts have failed. AFP
