Football Season Guide

PSG head into the new Ligue 1 season having reclaimed their French title but also after a somewhat disjointed campaign in which they once again failed in the Champions League having been in an advantageous position. That loss has caused soul searching at Parc des Princes, and instead of seeking to attract superstar individuals, they are ready to move into a new era of attempting to build a strong team – at least that is what is claimed publicly. Their big win over the summer was retaining the services of Kylian Mbappe, who had been broadly expected to leave for Real Madrid on a free transfer. As one of the outstanding players in the world, this was an enormous boost for PSG, who took their time in sacking head coach Mauricio Pochettino to replace him with the far more pragmatic Christophe Galtier. The signs are that Galtier, who has never had a job of this scale before, will deploy PSG in a 3-4-1-2 formation this season, with Neymar and Lionel Messi taking turns to operate behind Mbappe at the centre of the attack. With Messi already looking sharper in pre-season than he did last term, the signs are positive for Les Parisiens, though doubts continue to linger over their defence. Recruitment has been slow, in part because the squad was previously saddled with so many players who are essentially unwanted. Unless the likes of Ander Herrera, Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler and Idrissa Gueye are sold, Galtier will be left with an unwieldly squad that could be difficult to manage. Nevertheless, PSG have recruited in each line of the field. Nordi Mukiele has joined up on a relatively cheap deal from RB Leipzig – a move that looks good – while Vitinha has arrived from Porto to provide more control in midfield. Finally, Hugo Ekitike joins from Reims on loan with a purchase option. As one of French football’s brightest stars, this is a nice pick up. PSG have more strength and quality in their side than any of their rivals, as one would expect of a side with their financial advantages.