Why You Should Be Optimistic About Paris Saint-Germain Next Season

From exciting transfers to a new high-profile manager, there is light at the end of the tunnel for PSG supporters.

May 8, 2023

FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP via Getty Images

It’s been a difficult week for Paris Saint-Germain supporters.

Following a disappointing loss to FC Lorient at the Parc des Princes, the club was forced to suspend Lionel Messi for skipping a training session and instead going on an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia with his family to promote tourism to the country.

The details of the suspension reached the PSG Ultras, who took to the streets to protest against PSG leadership and demand that Messi, Neymar Jr., and even Marco Verratti leave the club. Things took a turn for the worse when a few PSG supporters went to Neymar’s house to protest.

Later in the week, Messi posted an apology video, which wasn’t entirely accurate, in my opinion.

“First of all, I want to apologize to my teammates and the club,” Messi said in the video clip, posted to his Instagram story. “Honestly, I thought we [the squad] were going to have a day off after the game like we did in previous weeks.”
“I had this trip [to Saudi Arabia] organized which I had cancelled [once] already; I could not cancel it again,” Messi added. “I repeat: I want to say sorry for what I did. I’m waiting to hear what the club want to do with me.” - Lionel Messi

It’s been reported that Messi and his teammates were told by Christophe Galtier that a win over Lorient meant an off day on Monday. Messi knew the final score of the match (3-1 Lorient) and left anyway.

PSG did cap off the tumultuous week with a 3-1 win over ES Troyes AC, in which they extended their lead in Ligue 1 to six points over second-place RC Lens.

Despite having one hand on the Ligue 1 trophy with that win, the season has been one to forget. Neymar again went down with a major injury that kept him out of the squad since early March, and the club suffered a second-consecutive Round of 16 UEFA Champions League exit.

There’s a lot of doom and gloom amongst PSG supporters, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The Manager

Galtier is almost certainly going to be sacked at the end of the season. He’ll get to lift the Ligue 1 trophy and celebrate, but it won’t be long after the confetti is cleaned up that the Frenchman will be let go for multiple reasons. Publically, PSG will point to Galtier’s failure in the Champions League and the squad’s overall lackluster play. However, you can’t help but think the allegations against him dating back to his time at OGC Nice might play a part.

Several candidates out there could take PSG to the next level. Zinedine Zidane is always the preferred choice, but that’s becoming more of a pipedream. Julian Nagelsmann, the man who knocked PSG out of the Champions League this season with FC Bayern Munich, is available, but does he have the experience to manage a club like PSG with all its quirks? No, there’s only one man for this job…

José Mourinho is reportedly interested in the PSG job, and the club is exploring bringing him to the French capital. There are some concerns about Mourinho taking over at PSG. His personality can wear thin on club management, and his antics could become a distraction. However, Mourinho has won everywhere he’s been, and he’s won the biggest titles in club football. He’s managed superstar players, and he would immediately command respect in the dressing room.

PSG is a glamour club, and they’ve never had a glamour manager during the QSI era. Mourinho would bring unprecedented cache to the Parc des Princes, and he’s certainly a reason to get excited.

Transfers

Have you been following the latest transfer gossip? Practically every player linked with a move to PSG fits the exact profile for who is needed. Players like Khéphren Thuram, Marcus Thuram, Jonathan David, Randal Kolo Muani, Min-jae Kim, and Victor Osimhen, just to name a few.

It’s unlikely PSG will be able to sign all of them, but I love that Luis Campos, PSG’s sporting director, is targeting young, talented players hungry to prove they should be considered among the best in the game. The sooner PSG gets away from signing aging, expensive players with little to prove, the better.

In terms of outgoing players, Messi is as good as gone after his latest antics. It’s also been reported that Neymar could be on the move as well as Marco Verratti. I 100 percent agree with the decision to get rid of Messi and Neymar, but I would keep Verratti unless a very attractive offer came in for the Italy international.

PSG is prepared to clean house and inject new players into its squad, and I couldn’t be more excited about what the starting lineup will look like next season.

The Youngsters

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Warren Zaïre-Emery appears to be the real deal. The 17-year-old is fearless on the pitch and already has Champions League experience, starting against Bayern Munich this season in the knockout stage. I also love how versatile he is. There’s no telling how good the Frenchman can be, and considering PSG’s recent history of letting young players leave too early; it’s imperative the club continues to give Zaïre-Emery playing time for the remainder of this season and going into next.

El Chadaille Bitshiabu is another player to get excited about. Several Bundesliga clubs are sniffing around, trying to unsettle the 17-year-old defender. That should tell you that the 6’5” Bitshiabu has a bright future. With Presnel Kimpembe rehabbing his ruptured Achilles, Bitshiabu could find significant playing time at the start of next season.

A former youngster, Xavi Simons, could also make a surprise return to PSG. The 20-year-old left PSG on a free transfer to PSV Eindhoven and has excelled in the Eredivisie this season. The Dutchman has 15 league goals, nine assists, and has helped lead Eindhoven to second place in the Eredivisie.

Reportedly, PSG included a buy-back clause in Simons’ free transfer. For this summer only, PSG can sign Simons for €12 million, but the player has to agree to the move. Could the promise of more playing time and a new sporting direction entice Simons to make a triumphant return? We’ll have to see.

Home Kit

PSG kits can be hit or miss. Nike can sometimes experiment too much and lose the essence of what PSG’s home kit should look like. Think back to the 2017-18 season, where PSG wore purple-ish sleeves with a thin line down the middle of the shirt.

The leaks of next season’s home kit are removed from the traditional Hechter design, but I’m a fan of what Nike has come up with. The off-center solid red stripe provides a stark contrast against the navy blue shirt, and it’s reminiscent of the kit Ronaldinho wore at PSG. I’ll be picking up the shirt when it’s released, and who knows, maybe I’ll get one of the youngster’s names printed on the back.

PSG Talk Extra Time