PSG struggled to win tickets to the Champions League knockout round. PSG's performance in past matches was not convincing. The representative of Paris only earned 8 points after 6 games, the worst performance in nearly 20 years. By only ranking 2nd in the group stage, PSG can meet Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, or Barca in the knockout round. Coach Enrique's team must play very hard in this round.
After six matches, Mbappe scored three goals. However, Mbappe's performance recently is still criticized. He must remember that as captain, he must set an example and pay attention to the overall play. But he hasn't shown it yet.
The decline in sharpness experienced by Mbappe made it difficult for PSG to perform optimally in securing points, it was clear that Luis Enrique squad really needed luck to qualify from the group phase. In fact, if you look closely they have very good bargaining value in Group F because they have better squad depth than Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle. If the results of the last 16 draw pit PSG against one of the favorite teams, it is likely that they will be eliminated early and return to their home in Paris.
With a star studded squad, Enrique has not been able to produce a promising performance, which could make us dare to bet on their victory. Enrique task is very difficult to carry out the ambitions of club officials who demand that he be able to bring the UCL trophy home to PSG glass cupboard. His managerial career is at stake, because if he fails, PSG management will not hesitate to end his tenure and look for a new successor.
PSG brought in 11 recruits along with the leadership team. But really, they cannot develop their strength. Kylian Mbappe continues to be one of the top players in soccer. This is his first season without Neymar or Lionel Messi alongside him in a PSG shirt. Therefore, the pressure is heavy on the shoulders of the 2022 World Cup top scorer. We can't entirely blame him.
By finishing second in the group, PSG's opponents will be the tot-ranked teams in the remaining groups. Therefore, this team's potential opponents are all "tough" teams, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, two teams that eliminated PSG in round 16 of the Champions League in the last two seasons. Enrique will have a lot of headaches because, with their current form, they need to improve to pass this round. If they meet a team weaker than them, with a strong team, there will be no chance for them.