PSG 'much more of a team' without Lionel Messi and Neymar as Luis Enrique is applauded for 'not giving so much freedom to players' after taking hard stance with Kylian Mbappe

With money no object at Parc des Princes, PSG set about assembling a super team that included some of the finest players to have ever graced a football field. That process started in the summer of 2017 when luring Brazil international Neymar away from Barcelona for €222 million (£190m/$241m).

He was joined in the French capital by Kylian Mbappe – who is now the club’s all-time leading goalscorer – while eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was acquired in 2021. While PSG enjoyed plenty of domestic success with that trio on their books, Champions League glory proved elusive.

They are back in the hunt for that crown this season, with Messi and Neymar having moved on to MLS and the Saudi Pro League respectively, and Fernandez has told SPORT of the club’s class of 2024: “For me if, if PSG had had the Messi from five years ago, when he was at Barca, I would surely say that it was better with Messi and Neymar, but this PSG is much more of a team. Neymar arrived with Mbappe, but injuries and other problems never allowed him to show his talent. With him PSG reached the Champions League final in the year of Covid. So, they were together for 20 days and that was good for the group. It is not good to give so much freedom to players. Luis Enrique doesn't give it. He had Messi, Neymar, [Luis] Suarez at Barca and he knows how to treat these stars. Obviously, Messi and Neymar have a lot of talent, but the difference is made by the coach. Luis Enrique can change a star in the 60th minute, like he has done with Mbappe, the others did not do it.”

Luis Enrique’s “demands” are considered to have made PSG a more formidable proposition than they were when Messi and Neymar were given freedom to do what they wanted on the pitch, with the most ambitious of outfits readying themselves for the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final clash with Barcelona on Wednesday.