It’s a dialogue that’s onerous to disregard now that PSG have change into champions of Europe behind a 5-0 demolition of Inter, the identical group that Barcelona misplaced out to within the semi-finals.
What, if something, can Hansi Flick and Barcelona study from the Champions League success of Luis Enrique and PSG?
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To start out with, an vital similarity. Each groups got here into this season with critical doubts in regards to the high quality on their roster. Nobody would have predicted that both group might have gone this far. PSG simply misplaced Kylian Mbappe. Barcelona simply appointed a brand new coach and had a quiet summer time that steered they weren’t assured of their readiness to contend for high honors on the continent.
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Hansi Flick and Luis Enrique each deserve all of the accolades they’re receiving for what they had been in a position to create with what they got.
The philosophy of each groups are the identical in that they select to assault, and depart warning to the wind. However their attacking and defending constructions are fairly completely different.
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By way of outcomes, you must give it to PSG, regardless that alongside the way in which Barcelona had a a lot stronger league section of the Champions League, ending in second place, whereas Paris began gradual and ended up in fifteenth.
PSG had a really powerful task within the knockout bracket, beginning with an additional tie that they needed to play in opposition to Brest. That was adopted by difficult matchups in opposition to three Premier League powerhouses in Liverpool, Aston Villa, and at last Arsenal.
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Barcelona in the meantime received a free move to the spherical of 16, after which had matchups in opposition to Benfica, Dortmund, and at last Inter, the place they had been undone.
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In that sense, despite Barcelona’s busy calendar, they did get two extra days of relaxation. PSG, then again, benefited tremendously from a Ligue 1 marketing campaign that they had been working away with, making it doable to prioritize the Champions League all through all of 2025.
Tactically, neither group performed pragmatically. Protection was secondary as they had been happy with conceding in service of the mentality that they may all the time rating greater than their opponent.
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PSG, nonetheless, though they performed with a excessive line, had been extra conservative than Barcelona. Each coaches applied an aggressive urgent system, however Barcelona’s efficacy on this space pale because the season went alongside, leaving their backline extra uncovered, leading to extra objectives being scored on them.
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PSG performed with a well-recognized 4-3-3, whereas Flick modified Barcelona to play together with his trademark 4-2-3-1. These formations labored nicely for every group due to the gamers accessible to them.
However there are just a few key variations between the groups.
On the backline, when wholesome, each PSG and Barcelona are sturdy. Though quite a lot of speak was had about Barcelona’s full-backs, when wholesome, which they weren’t within the second leg versus PSG, they’ve two of the most effective in Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde. However PSG, surely in my thoughts, have the most effective pairing on the planet in Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, by way of what they offer you on either side of the ball.
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Within the midfield, the 2 sides couldn’t be extra completely different. PSG have three playmakers in João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz. Their technical and industrious management of the midfield can’t be understated.
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Barcelona have Pedri, the most effective on the planet, and alongside him, they’ve an array of complimentary choices to fill out the double pivot. In entrance of the double pivot, Flick’s most well-liked possibility was Dani Olmo when accessible, which meant Barcelona successfully performed with 4 forwards on the sphere.
Query primary, is that this the way in which ahead, or would Barcelona be stronger with an additional playmaker on the sphere? If that’s the case, does that particular person even exist on the roster because it presently stands?
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From there may be the query of the entrance three.
It’s broadly agreed that transferring Ousmane Dembele to heart ahead, rather than a conventional goal man like Gonçalo Ramos, was the tactical choice that turned the tide for PSG, changing them into an unstoppable attacking powerhouse.
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Barcelona could have Robert Lewandowski for one final season. And nearly actually, they gained’t be altering him out, nor Lamine Yamal or Raphinha.
A debate will be had over which group has the higher three forwards. What can’t be argued is the depth that PSG has past their three starters.
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After Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Dembele, Luis Enrique has the choice to herald Bradley Barcola, Gonçalo Ramos, Lee Kang-in, and Seeny Mayulu.
PSG is what a very deep group appears like. Barcelona has some good names on paper, however going into subsequent season, particularly amongst their forwards, there needs to be a query concerning if what they’ve is sufficient to carry them by a difficult and aggressive calendar.
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Kudos to PSG. They’re deserving champions, and like Barcelona, they’re good for the sport as a result of they play with type and attacking intention.
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Finally, Flick is Flick, and Luis Enrique is Luis Enrique. They’ve their very own philosophies, and they’re two of the easiest managers within the recreation of soccer.
However maybe every coach has one thing to study from the success of the opposite.
As for me, I proceed to be disenchanted that we had been robbed of what might have been an unbelievable ultimate between Barcelona and PSG, versus the dud that Inter delivered.
Given the youth on either side, maybe we’re seeing the beginning of two European dynasties. PSG and Barcelona are on a collision course and appear fated to face off within the Champions League within the close to future.
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If that’s the case, it could be a deal with for the world to behold and revel in.
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