The Soggy Struggle is Real: PSG’s Post-Superstar Syndrome
Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) recent struggles in the UEFA Champions League have sparked questions about whether they miss the superstar era of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé. The answer, in a word, is yes. While the Parisians are now focusing on developing young talent, the lack of a true game-changer on the pitch is glaring.
In the past, PSG’s superstars were the ones who could turn a match around with a moment of individual brilliance. Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé were always capable of conjuring up a goal or creating a scoring opportunity out of thin air. But with these three no longer at the Parc des Princes, it’s hard to see who can fill that void.
As Football Transfers’ Robin Bairner wrote in his latest column, the capital club is suffering from a lack of "sparkle" on the pitch. "Of course, PSG has moved past its superstar era, but the team lacks the sparkle that players of the past might have brought – that ability to win the game from nothing," Bairner noted.
The problem, according to Bairner, lies at the center of the park. While Marco Asensio and Kang-in Lee have shown promise, they’re not the game-changers PSG once had. "PSG’s flexibility and balance in Ligue 1 matches with [Asensio] in attack is nice, but there is still a sense that something more is needed," Bairner wrote.
The debate is ongoing, but one thing is clear: PSG’s post-superstar era is struggling to find its footing. With a glaring need for a game-changer to lead the charge, the French champion’s quest for European success looks bleaker by the day.
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Stats:
- PSG have scored just two goals in their three UEFA Champions League fixtures this season.
- Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé scored a combined 176 goals in all competitions for PSG.
- The French champion has not won the UEFA Champions League since 1996.