Less intense pressing, individual marking, and resurfacing egos plague PSG's form. Find out what's truly derailing their Champions League ambitions.
Paris Saint-Germain crushed everything in its path in 2025, but it has been more difficult since the beginning of 2026. Several factors can explain this poor form.
Although it is the leader of Ligue 1 and has qualified for the Champions League round of 16, PSG is worried about its performances on the field, which are far from the level displayed by the Rouge et Bleu during their historic 2025 season.
For Le Parisien, several factors can explain the capital club's poor form at the beginning of 2026. Like L'Equipe, the Parisian outlet points the finger at a less intense pressing, which was the hallmark of PSG players last season, but also the individuals who are suffering, those who could not rest between the two seasons.
Le Parisien also explains that PSG's opponents are now better prepared. "If Luis Enrique's PSG never liked to oppose athletic density, opponents don't just offer duels to counter it. For months, they have been finding working solutions by limiting Vitinha's influence with individual marking." When Vitinha and the full-backs are hindered, and the attackers are having an off night, Paris ends up losing its way or exhausting itself, according to Le Parisien.
If Luis Enrique likes to use the word resilience when talking about his PSG, the latter also eats into energy and mental resources. Despite sometimes good content, like in Lisbon in the Champions League, it does not allow for reversing a situation of uncertainty every time, according to Le Parisien.
The loss in Rennes, just after the demonstration against Marseille, indicates that Paris over-invests in some events but no longer has the means to cover others. The Parisians' spirit chooses its matches and advances the Parisian outlet. The latter also estimates that the egos of PSG players are asserting themselves more. After the defeat against Rennes, Ousmane Dembele had shouted, pointing out certain individualistic behaviors of his teammates.
Le Parisien explains that the French international raised a real problem and internal tensions. His return to competition, added to that of Fabian Ruiz, another very collective player, will bring more cohesion. A priori, they will be present for the first leg in two weeks. Enough for Paris to rediscover its 2025 traits? concludes the Parisian outlet.
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