Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) clinched a domestic double by defeating Lyon in the French Cup final. Now, they face a new challenge: competing in the Champions League without Kylian Mbappe. The France captain ended his seven-year tenure at PSG with a 2-1 victory over Lyon. Ousmane Dembele and Fabian Ruiz scored, while Mbappe did not add to his club-record 256 goals.
PSG’s victory showcased their financial might over other French clubs. Recent accounts by the DNCG revealed PSG’s 2022/23 income matched the combined income of the next five richest clubs: Marseille, Lyon, Monaco, Rennes, and Lille. Despite their domestic dominance, PSG’s main goal remains the elusive Champions League trophy, which they have not won despite stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Coach Luis Enrique acknowledges the tough road ahead. He emphasized that replacing Mbappe with a single player is impossible. Instead, PSG plans to strengthen the team with multiple new signings. Whether they will pursue one big star like Victor Osimhen or Rafael Leao is unclear. They aim to avoid past mistakes made by Barcelona and Tottenham when replacing Neymar and Gareth Bale, respectively.
Luis Enrique remains optimistic. He believes PSG will eventually win the Champions League, though it may take years. The club is set for a tour of China, including a match against Monaco in the French season-opening Champions Trophy in early August. The new Ligue 1 season starts on August 16, with the Champions League beginning mid-September.
Negotiations to improve the squad are already underway. Luis Enrique will rely on stars like Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, and teenage sensation Warren Zaire-Emery. He views the project as impressive and plans to enjoy a summer break watching Euro 2024.
Lyon aims to build on their strong second half of the season under coach Pierre Sage, who is set to sign a new contract. However, the health of Ligue 1 remains uncertain. The league has no broadcast deal for next season, and clubs struggle financially after the collapse of a record deal with Mediapro in 2020. Reports suggest a potential agreement with beIN Sports, but time is running out.