CASH & BURN FOR PSG FLOPS
PARIS ST-GERMAIN are European football’s equivalent of HS2. Billions spent and nothing to show for it. Their humiliating exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, who are fifth in Germany’s Bundesliga, means they have managed just one final from their 12 Champions League campaigns under their Qatari owners. They have spent more than £1.6bn on players, but Kylian Mbappe, the last of their ‘Holy Trinity’ with Neymar and Lionel Messi, is leaving to join Real Madrid in the summer. Mbappe will leave not just a hole, but a chasm in the team and PSG’s next top scorer after his 36 goals is Goncalo Ramos with 11. Ousmane Dembele, who cost Barcelona £117m in 2017, has managed just five. PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi shot down any suggestion manager Luis Enrique could go, insisting their plan is on track. “We are building a long-term project with the youngest squad in Europe,” he said after defeat to Dortmund. “The future will be bright.” Al-Khelaifi consoled himself with the fact PSG hit the woodwork six times over the two legs of their semi-final, but overlooked their failure to score in over 180 minutes. “We really thought we could get to the final, we were the better team,” he said.
“I’m proud of our team, the youngest in Europe. It’s the third time in five years we’ve made the semi-finals. Of course, this wasn’t our objective, but it’s football and sometimes it isn’t fair.” Boohoo, pass the tissues. Without Mbappe, the world’s best player, it is very hard to see Enrique building a Champions League-winning side. PSG continue to look like a bunch of highlytalented individuals, not a cohesive team. Al-Khelaifi insists they will continue down their path under Enrique, but the future looks increasingly bleak for one of the world’s most moneyed clubs.