Paris Saint-Germain have established themselves as the best team in Europe, but did not even need to reach their peak to maintain their grip on European football last season. Luis Enrique’s side endured a slow start, finishing just 11th in the Champions League league phase, but rediscovered their best form when it mattered most, lifting the trophy for a second consecutive year and underlining their status as the continent’s dominant force.By sweeping aside Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Arsenal in last season’s Champions League knockout rounds, PSG more than earned the crown — and the French giants are 5/1 favourites to win it again next term.So, what are the ingredients to their success, and who will be their main challengers to stop them from winning the competition for the third time in a row?
Enrique’s winning formula is the most potent of any manager in the game right now. With Pep Guardiola no longer at Manchester City and Jürgen Klopp recently moving into the international game, Enrique is the most accomplished coach working in club football, and PSG are a reflection of everything he stands for.No team had a higher average share of possession in last season’s Champions League than PSG, who also registered the most touches in the opposition box. Unlike some of Enrique’s previous teams, PSG’s possession isn’t just for the sake of it. They play with purpose through the midfield and into the final third.Only Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane scored more goals in last season’s Champions League than Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who found the back of the net 10 times. The Georgian gave PSG a different dimension on the left side where he would stay wide to give himself space to drive at opposition defenders.Ousmane Dembélé also contributed eight Champions League goals, with the French international key to linking up PSG’s forward line. Dembélé’s willingness to drop deep creates space for Kvaratskhelia as well as Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué to exploit in transition moments.
