PSG’s summer recruits have yet to ease the burden on their starters
Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 win over newly promoted Le Mans has raised questions about whether their summer signings can give the first-choice players enough competition. Luis Enrique wants to rest key stars for the Champions League, but PSG have needed them to secure recent Ligue 1 victories, suggesting the new squad has not yet delivered the depth the club sought.
PSG spent more than €150m in the summer, including €50m on Maghnes Akliouche, but none of the recruits has displaced established starters. After Lucas Beraldo put PSG ahead from the penalty spot, Louis Mafouta equalised; Kvaratskhelia, Ruiz and Doué then came on around the hour, with Kvaratskhelia scoring and Akliouche adding his first PSG goal. PSG have won their last three league matches, though unconvincingly, and the article argues that their established players need stronger competition.
- PSG’s summer signings have not yet eased the burden on their stars.
- Kvaratskhelia came off the bench to help secure a 3-1 win.
- The new squad needs to push established players for places.
New here? Start with this
Paris Saint-Germain is France's most successful football club and one of the world's richest. They compete in both their domestic league and the Champions League, a competition between Europe's elite clubs, which means playing matches nearly every week for much of the year.
In the summer, PSG spent over €150m recruiting new players, including €50m for Maghnes Akliouche. This investment was intended to give manager Luis Enrique more options to rotate his squad and rest his star players between competitions.
However, the new signings have not yet challenged the established starters for places in the team. This means PSG have still needed to rely on the same key players for recent league matches, suggesting that despite the substantial spending, the club has not yet achieved the squad depth it was seeking.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
PSG's expensive summer recruitment—over €150m invested—should have delivered immediate squad depth to manage workload across multiple competitions. The fact that the club cannot adequately rest established stars even against newly promoted opposition raises legitimate concerns about whether this transfer strategy has achieved its stated purpose. With Champions League football demanding significant player rotation, an inability to field competitive alternatives to first-choice players undermines PSG's ability to compete effectively.
The case against
New signings require integration time, especially in a different league and tactical system. Players appearing off the bench and contributing—Kvaratskhelia and Akliouche both scored—demonstrates they are bedding in appropriately. Judging the success of transfers after a handful of matches, before players have adapted fully, is premature. Squad depth develops throughout a season, and these acquisitions may well prove their worth as familiarity with teammates and the system deepens.
Celebrity Entertainment Football Sport
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “PSG invested heavily in the summer but are still relying on the A team”.