This 2022-2023 season has been one of all paradoxes for PSG: the draw won on Saturday evening in Strasbourg (1-1) gives it its 11th Ligue 1 title, a record in the history of the French championship.
Marquinhos and his family are now ahead of Saint-Étienne, who have won 10. But behind this achievement, the last few months have been marked by many debates on the management of the club, its results in the Champions League and the game on offer. Despite this 9th coronation in twelve years of presence for Qatar Sports Investments, the party will quickly give way to a questioning and especially to expected changes.
The outpourings of joy were short-lived at La Meinau for Christophe Galtier's men, who did the bare minimum. If observers preferred the freshness of Lensoise with a magnificent season on the side of Bollaert, PSG knew how to turn their backs in the tough times to go all the same to win this title. In a Ligue 1 that they have dominated for so many years, Mbappé and his teammates know that they are no longer judged on the championship but on other aspects.
It's hard not to think about the new early elimination in the Champions League with the exit from the road in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich. Modern PSG are obsessed with this competition and their record in each season will necessarily be linked to their European performances. The defeat in the Coupe de France against OM, also in the round of 16, also made people cringe.
��️ "It's very difficult to be a champion. It's not normal to win" Christophe Galtier reacts to the microphone of CANAL after the coronation in Ligue 1 ��️
Not enough to discourage Christophe Galtier. Reinvigorated by this title obtained, his second after that won with Losc, the 56-year-old coach felt that he was still the man for the job for next year. "Yes, I think I deserve a second season at PSG, because I gave it my all, because I knew how to stay the course in very difficult times. A disastrous season here is when there is no league title at the end, and it has happened before. We are champions, so yes, I feel that I deserve to continue," said the Parisian coach.
But with often boring content in the second half of the season and the controversy linked to his Nice past, his future still seems to be in jeopardy. Several coaches have seen their names associated with Paris Saint-Germain lately: José Mourinho, Thiago Motta, Marcelo Gallardo, Luis Enrique, Xabi Alonso and Abel Ferreira. Nothing has been finalized for the moment, but Luis Campos is continuing negotiations to find the best profile compatible with the Parisian bench.
Players, coaches, managers: everyone is on the alert to find out what the upcoming offseason has in store for them. Apart from a few untouchables like Kylian Mbappé, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes and Gianluigi Donnarumma, some can expect to pack their bags in the coming weeks. After his controversial trip to Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi should not extend to Paris. The Argentinian world champion is going to leave after two mixed years. Barça, for a comeback with a bang, is among the potential landing points.
Beyond the stars, the workforce should be lightened by many other players. Mauro Icardi, Layvin Kurzawa, Julian Draxler, Georginio Wijnaldum, Leandro Paredes, Keylor Navas and Abdou Diallo are returning from loan this summer. The round trip promises to be express for the most part as the staff wants to slim down its professional group. Among the players present this season, Carlo Soler, Hugo Ekitike and Sergio Rico are also considered for transfer. In terms of arrivals, in addition to Milan Skriniar, free on July 1, Luis Campos hopes to attract new big names, such as Bernardo Silva and Victor Osimhen. With the end of Financial Fair Play restrictions, PSG can once again dream big. But the last flamboyant transfer window, carried out in 2021, had finally burned his wings.
Like his predecessors, Luis Campos will therefore play the perilous role of balancing act this summer between the search for a new coach, the construction of a coherent workforce, the management of egos and recruits worthy of Parisian standing. For the Portuguese recruiter, who has already had success in Monaco and Lille, this mission promises to be one of the most intense of his career.
