Have PSG Become a Likeable Team?
In the fourteen years since Qatar Sports Investments (QSi) took over Paris Saint-Germain, it has almost become second nature for football fans to take a good deal of joy in seeing the perennial Ligue 1 champions shoot themselves in the foot in the Champions League.
But now, shorn of their 'French Galacticos' tag, there seems to be a sea change in opinion towards the side.
As they prepare to play Liverpool this Wednesday in the Champions League Last 16, we look at what made them so disliked and what has caused the recent about-turn in favour towards them.
The Poster Boys for Sportswashing
When QSi, headed by Nasser bin Ghanim Al-Khelaifi, bought PSG in June 2011, their plan was set out early doors: to dominate the French league and become a European powerhouse.
With a bottomless pit of money to inject into the team, they snapped up massive stars, initially bringing in top-tier players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Edinson Cavani, and David Luiz before later dropping €222 million on Neymar, €180 million on Kylian Mbappé, and snatching up Lionel Messi in August 2021.
The acquisition of these players easily allowed them to dominate French football, but any admiration for this was heavily tempered by the fact that it was seen as a clear attempt for QSi to enhance the profile of Qatar worldwide through sportswashing—a practice of using sports to direct attention away from a Countries history of human rights violations.
These superstars were seen by other clubs and their fans as symbols of a deeply unethical practice, and not many tears were shed when they repeatedly failed to capture European football's most prized trophy.
The Masters of Snatching Defeat from The Jaws of Victory
Despite the riches used since the QSi takeover to build teams that should have been the envy of clubs throughout the world, PSG have still to win the Champions League. Not only that, but they have managed to make the art of failing a sport in itself.
From contriving to lose 2-0 on aggregate last season to Borussia Dortmund, despite having 44 shots and hitting the woodwork six times, to losing to a last-minute Marcus Rashford penalty against a Manchester United side there for the taking, there have been some disastrous results during the QSi period.
None of these compared to the match against Barcelona in 2017 that became so famous it was given its own name—La Remontada (the comeback). Going into the second leg at the Nou Camp with a 4-0 lead, PSG contrived to go 3-0 down before 50 minutes had been played. Edinson Cavani then hammered a shot home to give PSG a 5-3 advantage.
With only two minutes of the ninety left to play, PSG dramatically pressed the self-destruct button to allow Barcelona to score three goals and become the first team to overturn a 4-0 first leg deficit.
In a few minutes, they turned themselves into the laughing stock of world football. Although they reached the final in 2020, losing to Bayern Munich, the Nou Camp collapse is the match that people remember them for.
A Change in Attitude from the Owners
With endless money not contributing to major European success and a need to stay within the laws of Financial Fair Play, Nasser Al-Khelaifi realized that there would need to be a change in attitude throughout the club for future attempts to win the Champions League.
With Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar all gone, they have built their team around a blend of youth and experience. After a stuttering start to this season's Champions League, they go into their home tie against Liverpool as slight favourites.
They have still used their chequebook to acquire outstanding players such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and João Neves, but the overall balance of the squad is better, with a teamwork ethic ingrained in them this season that has been missing since day one of the QSi reign.
So, are they a more likable team?
It seems that QSi’s less brash approach has allowed them to at least go under the radar of those who disliked their initial attitude towards getting PSG to the top of the European tree. However, there is still a strong sense of sportswashing that will not go away as long as the current owners remain in charge.
I would imagine that many fans see them as a club that may just revert to their original formula should things not work out this season. No matter what, the double-header against Liverpool should provide an exceptionally entertaining 180 minutes, as whatever PSG do, for good or bad, they don’t do boring.