When you think of star-studded teams in European football, Paris Saint-Germainis always one of the first names to roll off the tongue.
Since Les Parisiens were taken over by Nasser Al-Khelaifi and QSI’s billions, the four-time French champions have assembled a team of superstars more than capable of mixing it with Europe’s elite.
Since the 2011 takeover, PSG have managed to win their third and fourth Ligue 1 titles in 2013 and 2014 respectively, but their star-studded squad have been unable to make it past the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League, being eliminated by Barcelona and Chelsea respectively.
PSG were unlucky to be knocked out by Barcelona in April 2013, and showed the football world that they were capable of giving Europe’s big boys a fright.
But since that mouth-watering Champions League tie, many are left wondering whether this superstar side will really fulfil their potential on the European stage.
If Paris Saint-Germain are to finally achieve success on the European stage, much of it will be down to the form of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimović.
This a man who has won eleven league titles in his distinguished career, and has topped the goalscoring charts every season he has been in France.
Essentially a carbon-copy of Dutch legend Marco van Basten, the Swedish hitman is one of the greatest players of his generation. In Ibrahimović, Paris Saint-Germain have a striker who is capable of propelling many teams to European glory.
In recent years the former Barcelona and Juventus striker has been criticised for not performing on the European stage, though since joining Les Parisiens Ibrahimović has finally proved to the world that he is capable of delivering when it matters most. Although the Swede has insisted his career has been fantastic anyway, despite not winning the Champions League, at nearly 33, it’s now or never for the big striker to win the title his phenomenal talent deserves.
PSG have had a slow start to the domestic season under new coach Laurent Blanc, and drew their opening Champions League fixture 1-1 against Ajax in Amsterdam.
The team have looked shaky at times, particularly at the back, and have conceded soft goals in their domestic campaign thus far. The four-time French champions cannot afford to concede in such a manner in the Champions League, where the teams are stronger and defensive lapses will be punished more frequently.
At the other end of the field, PSG have a wealth of attacking talent that can penetrate even Europe’s most robust defences. As well as Ibrahimović, Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has a second season to prove he is worth his hefty price tag.
After missing out on the World Cup, Brazilian winger Lucas Moura should also live up to his billing as one of South America’s brightest young talents. One of the most blisteringly fast players in the game, as well as being blessed with incredible dribbling ability, the young Brazilian has been far too inconsistent since joining PSG in January 2013, and has often been kept out of the team by experienced Argentinian winger Ezequiel Lavezzi.
If Cavani and Lucas can finally find their feet, along with Ibrahimović, few European defences will be able to keep them at bay.
PSG’s perfect blend of experience and youth in their midfield should again prove to be one of their most important weapons if they are to erase their quarter-final jinx.
Thiago Motta, Yohan Cabaye, Javier Pastore, Blaise Matuidi and young Italian gem Marco Verratti complete a midfield that boasts the necessary to with among Europe’s elite.
The PSG midfield may be strong, but on paper so is their defence. Captain Thiago Silva, Maxwell and new signing David Luiz all bring bags of experience. The three Brazilians are also joined in defence by compatriot youngster Marquinhos, who has the potential to become one of the world’s finest defenders, as well as young French full-back Lucas Digne, and experienced Dutch full-back Gregory van der Wiel.
It will take time for the team to adapt to life under new coach Laurent Blanc, and although their start to the season isn’t what many would have predicted, the team will click into gear. The French champions have been placed in a group featuring nemesis Barcelona, Ajax and Cypriot side APOEL, but Les Parisiens should have little trouble in joining Barcelona in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
This is one of the strongest sides in Europe. The time has come for Paris Saint-Germain to finally mount a serious challenge for the biggest prize in European club football and become only the second French side to lift the famous trophy after Marseille won it in 1993 (though they were later stripped of the title).
They are not the favourites to win the Champions League, but if Zlatan Ibrahimović continues firing on all cylinders and the rest of the team hit their stride at the right time, don’t be surprised to see Les Parisiens holding the coveted trophy aloft in Berlin on June 6.
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