Why are Paris St-Germain struggling to hit top form?

Luis Enrique is not a coach who often publicly acknowledges flaws within his team. Since taking charge of Paris St-Germain in 2023, the Spaniard has consistently projected confidence, even in moments when results or performances suggest underlying problems. That approach was on display again last week when PSG suffered a surprise defeat away to Sporting in the Champions League.

Despite losing the match, Luis Enrique described the performance as PSG’s best away display in Europe since his arrival. It was a striking statement, especially considering that this season alone PSG have recorded impressive victories at Barcelona and scored seven goals away to Bayer Leverkusen.

At first glance, the claim sounded exaggerated. However, a closer look at the numbers provides some support for the coach’s argument—although it is also possible that he was keen to protect his players from mounting criticism during a difficult spell.

Against Sporting, PSG dominated large portions of the game. They controlled nearly 75% of possession, registered 28 shots, and even had three goals ruled out. For long stretches, the visitors appeared to be firmly in command. Yet football’s unforgiving nature struck late on, as Sporting’s Colombian striker Luis Suarez scored twice in the closing stages to hand PSG a painful defeat.

“We deserved to win, but football doesn’t always reward the better team,” Luis Enrique said afterwards, reflecting his frustration with the outcome rather than the overall performance.

While PSG’s control was undeniable, the match exposed issues that had troubled the club earlier in their Champions League journey. These problems are uncomfortably familiar, echoing the struggles of last season’s opening European fixtures, when PSG failed to win any of their first four games.

Much like in the autumn of 2024, PSG’s authority on the ball has been undermined by defensive lapses and inefficient finishing. Dominance has not translated into goals, and minor errors at the back have been punished ruthlessly by opponents.

Last season, PSG’s dramatic turnaround—culminating in a historic treble—was built on a combination of defensive solidity and ruthless finishing. Away from home, where chances were limited, they were clinical. When teams sat deep, PSG dismantled low defensive blocks through sharp movement and quick combinations.

A key figure in that success was Ousmane Dembélé, who operated brilliantly in a dynamic false-nine role. His relentless pressing, intelligent movement, and creativity gave PSG’s attack a fluidity that overwhelmed opponents.

This season, however, that fluidity has largely disappeared. Instead of the incisive, high-tempo attacking play that defined their title-winning campaign, PSG have too often been guilty of slow, predictable possession. Long spells of control have lacked penetration, allowing opponents to stay compact and wait for mistakes.

Domestic defeats to Marseille and Monaco highlighted this issue clearly. In both matches, PSG dominated the ball but struggled to create clear chances, while defensive errors proved costly.

Some of these struggles can be attributed to injuries. During the autumn, PSG were hit by a significant injury crisis, with Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Nuno Mendes, and Achraf Hakimi all sidelined at various points. The absence of such key players inevitably disrupted rhythm, balance, and attacking cohesion.

However, injuries alone cannot explain everything. The shock Coupe de France defeat to Paris FC earlier this month raised further concerns, suggesting deeper structural problems within the team’s play. That result hinted that something was fundamentally not functioning as Luis Enrique intended.

A few days later, PSG produced a convincing victory over Lille, offering a brief glimpse of their potential. Dembélé’s audacious lob from outside the penalty area stood out as a moment of individual brilliance and briefly suggested that the champions were rediscovering their spark.

Yet consistency has remained elusive. PSG followed that win with a wasteful performance in Portugal and then struggled again in a narrow 1-0 victory over Auxerre last Friday. Despite creating numerous chances, they failed to kill the game off, leaving themselves vulnerable until the final whistle.

“We’re creating opportunities, but we’re missing confidence and precision in front of goal,” Luis Enrique admitted after the Auxerre match.

That win did, however, move PSG above Lens to the top of Ligue 1, ensuring that domestically they remain in a strong position. In Europe, they currently sit within the top eight of the Champions League league phase, placing them on course for automatic qualification to the knockout stages.

Still, by their own high standards, PSG have not yet matched the level of dominance and sharpness that defined last season. The control is there, the structure is evident, but the cutting edge has dulled.

Luis Enrique continues to project calm and belief, insisting that performances will eventually be rewarded. Whether that optimism proves justified will depend on PSG rediscovering their clinical edge and tightening up defensively as the season reaches its decisive phase.

For now, PSG remain contenders on all fronts—but the warning signs are clear. If they fail to correct these issues, their ambitions in Europe could once again be derailed.

For more football analysis, Champions League updates, and PSG news, visit https://netsports247.com.