The 2024-25 season will forever be etched in Paris Saint-Germain’s history as the year they conquered Europe while redefining their identity post-Kylian Mbappé. With Mbappé departing for Real Madrid on a free transfer in July 2024 , PSG embarked on a bold rebuild under manager Luis Enrique, prioritizing youth, tactical flexibility, and collective resilience. The result? A historic quadruple (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and first-ever UEFA Champions League title) , capped by a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final . Here’s a deep dive into their transformative campaign.
1. Champions League Triumph: Overcoming Adversity to Conquer Europe
The Champions League journey was a rollercoaster. PSG stumbled in the group stage, drawing 2-2 with Manchester City before a 4-2 comeback win at the Parc des Princes turned their campaign around . Dembélé’s hat trick and goals from Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos ignited a surge that saw them dismantle Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal in the knockout rounds . The 5-0 final win over Inter Milan was a masterclass: Dembélé’s creativity, Désiré Doué’s clinical finishing (2 goals), and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s late strike sealed PSG’s place in history . Gianluigi Donnarumma’s crucial saves in the knockout stages, including a penalty stop against Arsenal, were pivotal .
2. Ligue 1 Dominance: Unstoppable in Domestic Play
PSG retained their Ligue 1 crown with 26 wins, 6 draws, and 2 losses, amassing 84 points—19 clear of second-place Marseille . Their attacking firepower was relentless, scoring 92 goals (led by Ousmane Dembélé’s 22 league goals) while conceding just 35 . Memorable victories included a 3-0 thrashing of rivals Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome and a 4-2 comeback win at Monaco . The team’s unbeaten run until Matchday 31 highlighted their consistency, with midfielders Vitinha and João Neves orchestrating play and defenders Marquinhos and William Pacho forming a solid partnership .
3. Domestic Cups: Completing the Treble
PSG’s domestic dominance extended to the Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions. In the Coupe de France final, Barcola’s brace and Achraf Hakimi’s goal secured a 3-0 win over Lens . The Trophée des Champions saw them defeat Nantes 2-1, with Doué scoring the winner . These victories marked PSG’s second consecutive domestic treble and underscored their tactical depth under Enrique .
4. FIFA Club World Cup: A Journey of Highs and Heartbreak
PSG’s Club World Cup campaign mirrored their season—marked by resilience, tactical ingenuity, and a near-miss at global glory. Their run to the final, capped by a 0-3 defeat to Chelsea, showcased both their rising dominance and the fine line between triumph and disappointment. The final against Chelsea proved a bridge too far. Cole Palmer’s quickfire double (22’, 30’) and João Pedro’s finish (43’) exploited PSG’s defensive disarray—compounded by Pacho’s suspension. Despite Dembélé’s creativity and Kvaratskhelia’s probing runs, PSG failed to breach Chelsea’s compact defense, ending their bid for a quintuple . Donnarumma’s late saves prevented a heavier defeat but couldn’t salvage the result.
4. Key Players and Tactical Revolution
Ousmane Dembélé: The talismanic winger-turned-pseudo-9 was PSG’s heartbeat, contributing 35 goals and 14 assists across competitions . His adaptability to Enrique’s 4-3-3 system was crucial.
Désiré Doué: The 19-year-old sensation emerged as a star, scoring 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, including pivotal strikes in the Champions League knockout stages .
João Neves: The 19-year-old midfielder, signed from Benfica for €60M, became a midfield anchor with his composure and vision .
Achraf Hakimi: Named the world’s best right-back by many pundits, he delivered 11 goals and 14 assists, blending defensive solidity with attacking flair.
Enrique’s tactical shift—abandoning reliance on individual brilliance for high-pressing, positional rotations, and vertical transitions—was transformative. The team’s average possession dropped, but their counter-attacking efficiency soared, with 58% of goals coming from fast breaks.
5. Injuries and Squad Depth
Despite early-season setbacks—Donnarumma’s muscle strain, Presnel Kimpembe’s long-term absence (638 days out), and Lucas Hernández’s knee injury—PSG’s squad depth shone. Youngsters like Warren Zaïre-Emery and Arnaud Kalimuendo stepped up, while winter signing Kvaratskhelia (€75M from Napoli) provided a late-season spark with 16 goal involvements in 31 appearances .
6. The Post-Mbappé Identity
Mbappé’s exit forced PSG to redefine themselves. Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos prioritized youth and teamwork, signing Doué, Neves, and Pacho while integrating academy graduates like Barcola . The team’s collective spirit, evident in their Champions League comeback against City, symbolized this shift. As Enrique noted, “We proved that PSG is bigger than any single player” .
7. Future Outlook
With a squad average age of 24.7, PSG are primed for sustained success. The summer transfer window will focus on reinforcing midfield depth and securing Donnarumma’s long-term future . The club’s newfound identity—built on youth, tactical discipline, and mental resilience—suggests that the 2024-25 season was not just a peak but the beginning of a golden era.
In short, PSG’s 2024-25 campaign was a masterpiece of reinvention. By embracing change, nurturing talent, and rediscovering their fighting spirit, they silenced critics and claimed their rightful place among Europe’s elite. As the Parc des Princes chants now ring: “Paris est roi de l’Europe!” (Paris is king of Europe).
