Kolkata Kylian Mbappe made his final appearance for Paris St-Germain (PSG) on May 25 of last year, winning the French Cup final against Lyon by a score of 2-1, thus completing a domestic double. After that, the most feared attacker in the world had left, bringing with him all that directness, speed, and strength, not to mention the 44 goals and 10 assists he had scored in 48 games. The exit might be considered a blessing in disguise for PSG in advance of the Champions League final on Saturday.

Luis Enrique was prepared for it. The PSG manager had said in February 2024, when the news broke that Mbappe would be joining Real Madrid more than ten years after Zinedine Zidane had given him a guided tour of the team, that "if everything goes well, I'm convinced we'll have a much better team than this year." It's hard to argue that, given that they have a treble at home and are just one game away from winning the trophy they desire the most.

At PSG, Mbappe was the last of the "flashy bling bling". The expression refers to dazzling attacking players who don't contribute much when they don't have the ball, and it was created by club president Nasser al-Khelaifi. Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. were signed by PSG in that manner to partner with Mbappe in front.

In a video available online, Enrique attempts to persuade Mbappe that he should have pushed harder when PSG fell to Barcelona in the previous season. Despite advancing overall, PSG would lose to Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals of yet another Champions League season. And Mbappe would have scored more goals than tackles and interceptions by the end of another campaign.

PSG also sought Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves, Keylor Navas, and other older players who had previously won the competition in their quest for a first Champions League title. Munich has hosted the championship round every year, and there have been first-time winners each time. Something had to change because none of it was effective.

"We are in the midst of creating a new identity, our own style and way of playing, and a new culture," al-Khelaifi stated last season. That was Enrique's responsibility. Neymar Jr. left a month after being hired in July 2023, ending a career plagued by injuries. By then, Messi's experience in Paris had also come to an end. The transfer cost for Mbappe was £128 million this season.

The extent to which the team has changed is evident from the fact that only Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe are still there from the team that played in the 2020 final and that five of the 11 players from Enrique's first European match (a 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund in September 2023) have moved on.

Ousmane Dembélé has also established himself as a prolific goal scorer for PSG since then. Dembele, who had 28 goals in his prior five seasons and has 33 this year, was the epitome of profligacy in front of goal. Enrique has transformed him from a wide player to a false nine, allowing him the freedom to roam. Enrique stated, "He is always where he needs to be, then he is able to get the ball and score with one touch." According to Montpellier head coach Jean-Louis Gasset, the "idea of the century" was to move Dembele to a central position.

Until it did, it didn't work. PSG only had one victory after five games of dominance in the Champions League. PSG would have been eliminated if the previous structure of six group league matches had been in place, but they are now in eight and they won their last three games to stay alive. The game against Manchester City, in which PSG were down 0-2 before ultimately winning 4-2, was the clearest sign of a change in fortune. PSG's pressure and dominance over the ball were flawless in their match against City. PSG would defeat three more Premier League teams on their way to the championship game.

PSG's off-ball play is what has made them the dominant team in Europe. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was acquired in January because of his strong defensive work ethic. The Athletic has observed that PSG are completing five more tackles every game in 2022–23. Enrique, who guided Barcelona to the Champions League title in 2015, has attributed this to increased defensive effort and improved ball recoveries by the team's attackers.

"This is one of the concepts that is difficult to teach since attackers have to shift their perspective... It's about working as a team," he stated prior to the championship match. "We did that last year, but we're improved this year."

PSG has transformed from a squad that depended on star dust to one with a solid defense (see how Arsenal was contained in Paris), a midfield that can manage the ball under pressure, a fluid interchange of positions between fast wingers and full backs, and where Fabián Ruiz gives a left-footed choice.

The majority of the first round was spent by Enrique, 55, attempting to achieve his ideal lineup. Since the knockout stage, PSG has appeared calm. Furthermore, they are in a better position to go places they have never been without Mbappe.

Read Also: Jadeja’s Bold Social Media Remark on Kohli vs Rohit: ‘Respect Comes from the Dressing Room’

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!