Behind PSG’s Perfect Rebuild After Kylian Mbappé

Paris Saint Germain. A team in the modern day associated with big brand deals, big egos, big signings, and comfortably winning Ligue 1 year by year, while falling at the last hurdle for their ultimate goal of winning the UEFA Champions League.

Following the fallout of the disappointing failure of the trio of Neymar Jr, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe, the French club were left in the summer without a recognised superstar, causing Luis Enrique’s side to have to rebuild. Instead of their typical strategies, the Parisians went for youth, spending €130m on players such as João Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Enrique’s side sit 16 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table, additionally, raising eyebrows after two strong performances against Premier League leaders Liverpool, knocking them to advance into the Champions League’s quarter-finals. But as PSG have transitioned almost effortlessly from the days of Mbappe, how did the Parisians rebuild?

Fluid Front Three

The players at the top of the tree will always be the headliners in football. However, for PSG, their attack is genuinely how they operate and offer one of the most exciting styles of football to watch for a fan. Dynamic, creative, entertaining, full of flair and clinical. Many wondered if the French club could operate without the attacking presence of Mbappe. With 70 goals scored in Ligue 1 and impressively racking up 48 shots, over two legs, against a solid Liverpool defence – Enrique’s side, do not seem to be struggling.

Kvaratskhelia was the big signing for PSG, joining from Napoli for a reported €70m. Since joining, the Georgian has recorded one goal and two assists in five Ligue 1 starts. However, alongside goals, the 24-year-old offers Enrique’s attack so much more, averaging 2.80 chances created and 2.80 successful dribbles per 90. On the opposite wing to the Georgian is exciting youngster Bradley Barcola. At 22, Barcola has lit up Ligue 1, scoring 13 goals and assisting seven in 25 appearances this season. The 22-year-old has also produced three goals and three assists in this season’s Champions League as Barcola provides the width for this PSG side alongside Kvaratskhelia. The centre piece to this PSG team is not stereotypical as Ousmane Dembélé acts as the side’s centre striker in what has been a rejuvenation from the winger. After announcing himself onto the scene as a youngster, Dembélé’s career has consisted of a series of catastrophic injuries. But now the Frenchman has rediscovered his early self, netting 20 times in 23 matches, also sitting above 98% of Ligue 1 players for chances created, shot attempts, and goals. The final piece of the Paris attack is their young starlet Désiré Doué. Joining from Rennes in the summer, the 19-year-old has eight goal contributions in just 12 starts, but the Frenchman has dazzled due to his flamboyant playstyle that gets fans off of their seats. Typically coming off from the bench, Doué provides a frightening alternative to any defence.

Never seen a more fitting name 😮

19-year-old Désiré Doué is destined for greatness ✨ pic.twitter.com/Fd7jjx6Ehg

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 12, 2025

Energetic Full Backs

The role of the full-back has grown in recent years, and in Enrique’s PSG team, there is almost no bigger role. Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, are two fast, attack-minded full-backs that have the potential to be two of the world’s best in their positions. Hakimi (26) began his professional career at Real Madrid, before moving to Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, finally signing for PSG in 2021. Hakimi is the definition of a modern-day full-back, at first doing his defensive work but then courageously driving forward. This season, Hakimi sits above 93% of defenders in Ligue 1 for touches, shot attempts, goals, and chances created. Additionally, with four goals and six assists, the Moroccan offers the PSG attack an additional option on the wing, allowing for over and underlaps around Barcola. Hakimi’s partner in crime and occupying the opposite full-back is Mendes. The Portuguese international can do a little bit of everything – averaging 1.35 chances created, 95.49 touches, and 5.85 recoveries per 90, while winning 63.6% of his tackles and carrying a pass accuracy of 89.2%. This season, in particular, the 22-year-old has begun to show his early potential, becoming one of the world’s best full-backs and in recent times, confidently guarding a Mohammed Salah, who looks set to win the Ballon d’Or. Against Liverpool, Mendes had the most tackles (4), won the most duels (11), and eight clearances as the left-back continues to go from strength to strength.

Nuno Mendes won 8/8 tackles and 11/11 duels tonight.

He limited Mo Salah to:

0 shots
0 dribbles
0 chances created

A top performance from the left-back 👏 pic.twitter.com/Exrjr36rIt

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2025

Youthful Spine

Youth exists throughout Paris Saint Germain’s team, but if you want to rebuild and become a serial and dominant team in Europe, you need a team that can gain control, and PSG’s midfield operates with an abundance of maturity in the middle. At the age of 25, Vitinha is the Parisian’s ‘senior man’ in midfield. After signing from Porto in 2022, the Portugal international has quietly become a complete midfielder and one of Europe’s most underrated facilitators. The most impressive ability of the 25-year-old is no doubt his accuracy, rarely misplacing a pass or giving the ball away. Vitinha passes with an accuracy of 93.5%, a long ball accuracy of 85.4, and finally, dribbling with a success rate of 74.2%. Alongside Vitinha are the two young stars in the Parisian midfield, who could turn into world beaters. Starting with Neves, a player who was snapped up from Benfica in the summer and has quickly turned himself into one of the first names on the team sheet. 20 years of age, the Portuguese midfield operates as a defensive and central midfielder, doing his work on both ends of the game. Elite per 90, when it comes to assists (0.50), pass accuracy (91.6%), chances created (1.82), touches (96.98), duels won (7.29), and recoveries (6.22). Starting in all of PSG’s last seven fixtures, Neves looks to have arrived on the scene instantly, and his potential spirals off the chart. The second midfield wonderkid in Paris is a homegrown talent. At 19 years old, Warren Zaire-Emery sits as one of the world’s brightest emerging young talents in central and defensive midfield, also operating at right full-back. Zaire-Emery has made 20 league appearances in his third season as a professional. The biggest strength of the Frenchman is his tremendous technical ability but the youngster also offers a tireless engine and physicality as Zaire-Emery has a colossal future in world football.

João Neves has won more tackles (24) than any other player in this year's Champions League.

Unreal on and off the ball. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/SGHy69jsIm

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 11, 2025

Potential To Become A European Powerhouse

Moving on from the superstars of yesterday was never going to be easy for PSG. However, through successful transfer dealings and forming a balanced team, the French club have perfectly demonstrated how to rebuild and rebrand, while staying as one of Europe’s elite. With a squad filled with exciting young talents like Zaire-Emery, Barcola, and Doué, the future is more than bright for the Parisians.