PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery: ‘Luis Enrique said we’d score more without Mbappé – and he wasn’t wrong’ | OneFootball

On the eve of Paris Saint-Germain’s two biggest fixtures of the season – the Coupe de France final against Stade de Reims and the Champions League final versus Inter Milan – Warren Zaïre-Emery (19) has paid tribute to the strength of his team’s collective identity, validating a prediction Luis Enrique made at the very start of the campaign.

When Kylian Mbappé’s departure became all but certain last summer, the PSG fanbase held its breath. After all, the France captain had contributed a staggering 44 goals in all competitions during the 2023/24 season. But Luis Enrique, never one to panic, chose to double down on his philosophy.

“If someone scores 40 goals, we won’t close the door. But based on my experience, I’d rather have four players who score 12,” the former Barcelona coach had said during pre-season. “It’s a challenge to prove football is a collective sport – not just for the forwards, but for the whole team.”

Fast forward nine months, and the numbers speak for themselves. PSG have morphed into a shape-shifting attacking machine. Ousmane Dembélé leads the scoring charts with 33 goals, while the likes of Bradley Barcola (19), Gonçalo Ramos (18), Désiré Doué (13), Vitinha (7), Achraf Hakimi (7) and winter signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (6) have all contributed significantly.

Speaking to RTL Sport, Zaïre-Emery (19) gave his take on the team’s transformation. “I saw that the coach said that without Kylian, we’d score more goals. I don’t think he was wrong. The danger can come from anywhere – midfielders, defenders, attackers, they’ve all been scoring.”

The France international went on to highlight the improved chemistry within the group this season. “We’ve built a real team – players who work for each other and give their all every match. Everyone’s committed, and I think it’s working really well.”

Zaïre-Emery himself has been central to PSG’s resurgence, adding bite, discipline, and drive to a midfield that now functions as the heartbeat of Luis Enrique’s collective model. Though PSG have operated without a talismanic figure like Mbappé, they’ve gained a tactical cohesion that could yet deliver a historic treble.GFFN | George Boxall