PSG Can Find Positives Despite Missing Out On Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain fell short of reaching their second Champions League final, but the French club found some positives amidst a season of change under a new coach.

The Ligue 1 champions were eliminated in the semi-finals on Tuesday following a 1-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, resulting in a 2-0 aggregate defeat. Despite hitting the woodwork six times across both legs and making 31 attempts at the Parc des Princes, they were unable to secure a spot in the final.

“We were not inferior over the two legs, but football rewards those who score not those who hit the woodwork,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique. “My goal was to be fighting for all the titles. Tonight I’m proud of my team, of all the players.”

PSG clinched the Ligue 1 title and is set to compete in the French Cup final later this month.

“We weren’t efficient, they were efficient, they scored two goals and won both matches. There’s a lot to take back from this competition,” captain Marquinhos told reporters. “At the start of the season, nobody believed we’d get this far. We’ve overcome a lot of obstacles, but we can’t throw everything away now just because we’ve been eliminated. We have to remember that this is a new project, with a new coach. There are positive things to take into the next season.”

PSG has suffered defeat in all six legs of their three two-legged Champions League semi-finals, including losses against AC Milan in 1995 and Manchester City in 2021.

In 2020, PSG reached the final by defeating RB Leipzig in a one-off semi-final due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. However, they were ultimately defeated by Bayern Munich in the final.

The season began with new coach Luis Enrique at the helm and without the presence of Lionel Messi and Neymar, as club president Nasser al-Khelaifi prioritized team-building over individual talents.

Although not consistently brilliant, PSG has displayed a sense of organization as a unit. The coach mentioned that he is already focused on constructing a team without Kylian Mbappe, who is anticipated to depart after the season.

“The players and coach gave their all. Congratulations to Dortmund, we deserved better. It’s a tough game. I’m proud of my team, the youngest in Europe,” Al-Khelaifi said. “We’ve reached the semi-finals three times in five years. That’s not our objective, it’s still the final. That’s soccer, you have to accept it and sometimes it’s not fair. We’ll accept it.”