Since Kylian Mbappé’s high-profile departure this summer, Paris Saint-Germain made the surprising decision not to bolster their offensive line—a choice that has sparked much debate.
For Thierry Henry, former striker and now football analyst, this strategy could backfire on the Parisian club. In his view, PSG is now “less equipped” without a finisher of Mbappé’s caliber, who had been the driving force behind their attack for several seasons.
“After Kylian left, people said they would be more stable or balanced. It worked at first—they looked more like a team, and yes, they are more of a team, more stable. But they’ve still lost Mbappé. It’s tough. A player like Kylian can turn a game like this around, make it 2-1 or score a winner with a bit of magic at the end. You’ve lost some of that magic, but the team seems more balanced. Still, it’s not good enough,” Henry commented on CBS Sports.
“100% Young” Too Soon
“They decided to move on from those guys (Neymar and Messi) after how things went with the fans… They chose to go with youth. But when you go with youth, you can’t go ‘100% young’ too soon. You need a few experienced players to guide them. Marquinhos stayed, and Hakimi is becoming a veteran. You need guys to help the younger players get better. And losing Mbappé doesn’t make it easier. Tonight’s result is disappointing,” Henry added.
While the season is still long, Henry suggests that PSG’s failure to replace Mbappé with a major attacking reinforcement could be a strategic misstep. Will the club adapt to this new reality, or will they need to strengthen their squad during the next transfer window to stay competitive? Only time will tell.