PSG are in the Champions League Group of Death...and That's a Good Thing
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PSG are in the Champions League Group of Death...and That's a Good Thing
Paris Saint-Germain will face Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, and Newcastle United in the Champions League group stage.
In the final season of the UEFA Champions League, as we know it, Paris Saint-Germain will face its biggest group stage challenge in recent memory.
PSG learned its fate on Thursday as the soccer gods pit the reigning Ligue 1 champions against Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, and Newcastle United in Group F.
Let’s start with what I hope is the obvious: Group F is the group of death because of PSG’s inclusion. Don’t listen to pundits who aren’t paying attention to PSG’s summer transfer window or reference the departure of Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. as a reason why PSG will struggle this season. Luis Enrique has an elite squad led by Kylian Mbappé and should be considered favorites to finish first in the group.
Pressure makes diamonds
That said, PSG will face a battle every time the Champions League anthem plays. In previous seasons, they’ve been able to pencil in wins over Maccabi Haifa, Club Brugge, and İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. Not anymore. PSG will have to go to the San Siro, to St. James’ Park, to Signal Iduna Park to face the Yellow Wall. It will be an epic run of matches with no off days and incredible atmospheres at the aforementioned stadiums and the Parc des Princes. It’s what makes the Champions League the best competition in the world.
The six matches PSG will play in the Champions League will also prove invaluable for a team that has been completely rebuilt this summer. Luis Enrique’s ideal starting XI will likely feature five to six new signings at all three levels on the pitch. What better way to find out if a player will work out than seeing what they can do on a Champions League night in Milan, right?
We know Mbappé will show up and perform to his lofty standards, but what will Ousmane Dembélé bring to the table? How will Randal Kolo Muani fare under the bright lights? Is Manuel Ugarte capable of bossing a midfield against elite competition? We’re about to find out.
Competition at every position
The summer transfer window saw PSG bring 11 new players into the squad this season. They’ve added quality depth at every position, and one thing that a tricky Champions League group stage draw will do is increase competition for playing time.
One position, in particular, that I think is up for grabs is the right-back position. Achraf Hakimi is the presumed starter, but his early-season struggles mean Nordi Mukiele could return from injury and compete for that spot. On the opposite side of the defense, Nuno Mendes is coming back from injury and will likely become the starting left-back, meaning Lucas Hernández could move into the center-back role and push Marquinhos to the bench.
In the midfield, it will be a battle between Kang-In Lee and Vitinha to see who can start as an attacking midfielder alongside Ugarte and Warren Zaïre-Emery. Whoever can perform well in Ligue 1 play and make the fewest mistakes in the Champions League will likely take hold of that position.
There are fewer questions regarding PSG’s attack, with Mbappé the unquestioned first name on the squad sheet. Kolo Muani is another sure thing as a starter, considering his quality and the transfer fee PSG paid (€95 million) to sign him. However, Gonçalo Ramos is a quality striker and will push the Frenchman to be at his best to maintain his starting role. On the right side of the attack, Dembélé is likely the starter, but he has youngster Bradley Barcola and veteran Marco Asensio pushing for minutes.
No time to rest
If you listen to pundits in previous seasons, the primary talking point regarding PSG’s failures in the Champions League boils down to Ligue 1 and the supposedly inferior teams PSG faces weekly.
That shouldn’t be the case this season, with six matches against some of Europe’s most talented teams, not to mention Ligue 1 has gotten more demanding in recent years, as evident by PSG winning the league last season by one point.
Just look at September for PSG. They travel to Olympique Lyonnais on the third, then host OGC Nice and their talented squad of youngsters on the 17th. Just two days later, PSG welcomes Borussia Dortmund to the Parc des Princes for matchday one of the Champions League, and on the 24th, arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille come to the French capital. That’s about as difficult a month as any team could ask for. We should learn much about Luis Enrique’s tactics and how well the squad is coming together under his guidance.
So yes, PSG is in the group of death in the Champions League, but they finally have a squad that can look death in the eyes and not blink. Allez Paris.