Paris Saint-Germain came up short against Lens in the Trophée des Champions. It was inevitably a frustrating defeat, especially as the Parisians played with a numerical advantage for much of the match. But it is certainly no reason to question everything that has been built over the past few months.
PSG losing a final? Yes, it is rare, but so what? It is important to remember that Paris have had a very unusual pre-season. The Club World Cup feels like it was only yesterday! Several internationals returned late after a demanding summer. France internationals Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaïre-Emery only returned to training last Monday. Achraf Hakimi did too, while the Portuguese players came back just a few days earlier. Under those circumstances, it is difficult to already be at 100% physically and collectively.
A late return that is still taking its toll
The difference in preparation can still be seen on the pitch. Some players are lacking match sharpness, legs are heavy and the team’s usual chemistry has not fully returned yet. PSG are therefore still a long way from their best level, which is perfectly understandable at this stage of the season. It is also worth remembering what Paris achieved only a few days earlier: PSG won the UEFA Super Cup with an impressive collective performance and added another trophy to their collection. That achievement showed that this team still has all its qualities despite a far from ideal preparation.
This defeat against Lens could even have a positive effect. It serves as a reminder that nothing will come easily this season, that every opponent will be desperate to beat Paris and that the players must maintain the same hunger despite all their recent success. Luis Enrique can also use this match to identify and correct what went wrong.
And ultimately, you cannot win everything. The Trophée des Champions is still a trophy, but it certainly will not define PSG’s season. The biggest objectives lie elsewhere, particularly in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and, above all, the Champions League. With more match fitness and the entire squad finally able to complete a proper preparation, Paris have more than enough quality to enjoy another excellent season. So there is no need to panic: this defeat looks far more like an early-season setback caused by the circumstances than a genuine warning sign.
