Paris Saint-Germain, also known as PSG, are getting ready to defend their Champions League title, and their coach Luis Enrique believes the team is stronger and more confident than they were last year. This is big news for fans of the Parisian club because they are facing some tough challenges right now, including injuries to key players.
Even though PSG will be without stars like Ousmane Dembélé and Desire Doué, Luis Enrique says the team has grown mentally and emotionally since last season. In fact, he insists the players believe more than ever that they can win Europe’s biggest trophy again.
The Injury Setback
Before diving into the confidence boost, let’s talk about the injury problems.
Ousmane Dembélé: The French winger, famous for his speed and dribbling, is out for six weeks with a hamstring injury. That’s a painful loss because he’s one of the most creative players in PSG’s attack.
Desire Doué: Another young French talent, Doué, hurt his calf while playing for France and will be sidelined for about four weeks.
Lucas Beraldo: To make matters worse, defender Lucas Beraldo is also missing the upcoming Champions League match because of an ankle injury.
These are big blows. Imagine going into a final exam without your best study partners—that’s what PSG is facing right now. But instead of worrying, coach Luis Enrique is focusing on how far the team has come since last season.
A Strong Start at Home
Despite these setbacks, PSG has begun the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season in style. They are unbeaten in the French league so far. Their most recent game, a 2-0 win over Lens, showed off the team’s growing depth. The star of that match was Bradley Barcola, a 23-year-old French forward who scored both goals.
Barcola’s performance is a reminder that PSG has a mix of young talent and experienced veterans. That balance is one of the reasons why Luis Enrique is optimistic about the Champions League campaign.
Flashback: Last Season’s Rollercoaster
To understand why Luis Enrique is so confident, let’s rewind to last year. PSG’s Champions League journey in the 2023/24 season wasn’t smooth at first.
In the league phase, they only managed three wins and one draw out of eight matches.
That left them outside the top eight, meaning they had to go through the playoffs just to reach the knockout rounds.
But here’s the twist: even with that shaky start, PSG turned things around. They built momentum, grew as a team, and eventually won their first-ever Champions League title. The final was unforgettable. PSG crushed Inter Milan 5-0, proving they were not only capable but also dominant on the biggest stage.
That victory was historic. PSG had tried for years to win the Champions League, often falling short in heartbreaking fashion. Finally, in 2024, they broke through.
The Champions League Mentality
Luis Luis Enrique explained why winning the first title is the hardest.
“The first title is always difficult because the players don’t think they’re capable of winning it,” he said.
That’s a powerful point. Think about it like climbing a mountain. The first time feels impossible, but once you reach the top, you know you can do it again. That’s where PSG is right now. They’ve proven to themselves and the world that they can win. Now they believe they can win more.
This confidence is what Luis Enrique wants to build on. He doesn’t want his players to become comfortable or overconfident. Instead, he is pushing them to keep improving.
“There is no calm, or complacency about the future,” Luis Enrique said. “We must constantly think about getting better.”
Other Big Competitions
It hasn’t all been perfect since their treble-winning season. After winning Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League in 2024, PSG entered the Club World Cup in July. They made it all the way to the final but lost 3-0 to Chelsea.
That defeat was a reminder that in soccer, nothing is guaranteed. No matter how strong a team looks, every match brings new challenges.
Atalanta: The First Opponent
PSG’s first Champions League test this season comes against Atalanta, an Italian club with a reputation for fast, attacking soccer.
This year, Atalanta has a new coach, Ivan Jurić, who will be managing in the Champions League for the first time. While that might sound like an advantage for PSG, Luis Enrique says it actually makes things more unpredictable.
“They changed their coach so it is tough for us to predict how they will play,” he explained.
Even though Jurić is new, Atalanta still carries the influence of their former coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, who left a strong mark on the team. Under Gasperini, Atalanta won their first-ever Europa League title in 2024 and finished third in Serie A (Italy’s top league).
So, PSG can’t take them lightly. As Luis Enrique said, “It will be a very demanding match.”
Soccer Facts and News Combos
To make the story even more interesting, let’s mix in some soccer facts and combos related to PSG and their journey:
Treble Winners: PSG won the Ligue 1, French Cup, and Champions League in the same season (2024). This rare achievement is called a treble.
Scoring Stars: Last season, PSG had several players scoring double-digit goals across competitions, proving they’re not dependent on just one superstar.
French Core: With players like Mbappé (before leaving), Barcola, Dembélé, and Doué, PSG continues to rely heavily on young French talent.
Club World Cup Story: PSG reached the final but lost to Chelsea, showing there’s still room for growth on the global stage.
Atalanta’s Combo: Winning the Europa League plus finishing top 3 in Serie A last season shows they are one of Europe’s most improved clubs.
Looking Ahead
Luis Enrique is clear about the goal: PSG want to make history again by winning a second consecutive Champions League title. It won’t be easy. Injuries, tough opponents, and the pressure of defending champions all add up. But the difference this time is belief.
The players now know what it takes. They’ve climbed the mountain once, and they’re determined to climb it again. With young stars like Barcola stepping up, veterans providing leadership, and Luis Enrique pushing for improvement, PSG fans have plenty of reasons to feel excited.
The journey starts against Atalanta, and if Luis Enrique’s words are anything to go by, PSG are ready for the challenge.