Just under a year ago, Kylian Mbappé bid farewell to PSG in a video. The French team had just been eliminated in the Champions League semifinals against Borussia Dortmund, and the forward had not performed at his best. Following the ups and downs of the French star over the years, it was time for Luis Enrique to chart a new course for the Parisian squad. "We have to learn to play without Kylian," said the Asturian coach. This new direction was very different from the previous years and quite similar to another former team of Luis Enrique: FC Barcelona.
At the end of last year, PSG inaugurated its new sports city in Poissy, the pinnacle of the new foundation that the coach had already outlined at the presentation of that 59-hectare space with 16 football fields. "It is essential to build a solid team from the grassroots. We want the players trained here to reach the first team and be key players," explained the Spanish coach, highlighting the shift in the model that would now prevail at PSG, amidst the presence of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé, signings that cost nearly 500 million euros.
PSG was not closing its doors to star players, as they recently signed Kvaratskhelia for 70 million euros, but the team would not be built around them but around an idea: youth and academy players. Thus, alongside Zaïre Emery, Mayulu, or Zague, players like Doue, Pacho, Neves, or Moscardó under 23 years old with great potential for the future were incorporated. By the way, Kvaratskhelia just turned 24. "If we want a team less dependent on stars and more balanced, we need to develop our own leaders," pointed out the coach in line with the club's transfer policy led by the Portuguese Luis Campos.
Beyond recruiting young talent, the key is to integrate and align them. Luis Enrique took some time to find the right formula for this new PSG. Despite their dominance in the domestic league, a usual occurrence each season, the French team had to work hard to secure a spot among the 24 teams in the second phase of the new Champions League. As of today, the team clinched the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare, will play the French Cup final on May 24 against Reims, and this Tuesday faces the Champions League semifinals against Arsenal.
It was precisely against the English team that the Asturian coach fielded one of the youngest lineups in the competition. With an average age of 23.2 years, the French team lost 2-0 to the gunners in the second group stage match. This setback did not alter the club's or the coaching staff's idea, as they continued to trust in this approach both in Europe and in domestic competitions.
Luis Enrique has fielded the five youngest lineups in PSG's history this season. Against the weaker Saint Marcel in the French Cup, he fielded eleven players with an average age below 22 years (specifically 21.9). The average age was 22.5 in the league match against Le Havre and 22.6, also in Ligue 1, against Rennes. All matches in this top 3 ended with victories for the Parisian team.
This nursery of players under Luis Enrique includes several standout names. When it comes to academy representation, Warren Zaïre Emery is the main emerging star. The French midfielder has scored three goals and provided an assist, gaining more prominence in Luis Enrique's team. "Warren is an example of what we want to build. He has talent, commitment, and the club's DNA. The future of PSG relies on players like him," praised the coach of his player.
Desiré Doué, the winger from Rennes, is another young sensation of the season. With increased appearances in Luis Enrique's lineups, Doué has become one of the main attacking assets for PSG. Dynamic and with a goal-scoring ability, the forward has scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists, showcasing his decisive impact near the opponent's area.
In total, there are 13 players aged 23 or younger in this new PSG squad, accounting for 54% of the Parisian team. Luis Enrique has a pool of young talent at his disposal to face the remaining challenges of this season. The main one, of course, is to reach the final that slipped away last year. It would be ironic if the French team achieves the goal for which Mbappé moved to Real Madrid this year. Their opponent could be, precisely, another team that has taken a similar path after Messi's departure. Ironic.