PSG/Flamengo – Paris look flat and lacking spark, former player’s analysis

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·19 dicembre 2025

PSG/Flamengo – Paris look flat and lacking spark, former player’s analysis

Paris Saint-Germain won on penalties (1-1, then 3-1 on penalties) against Flamengo (video summary PSG/Flamengo) this Wednesday in Doha as part of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup final. After this match, former player (1992-1998) and Parisian manager (2006-2012) Alain Roche shared his thoughts with L’Equipe.

Roche "You have to know how to win without being perfect"

"Should we remember this 6th title of the season or a rather lackluster team performance on the Parisian side? The 6th title, nothing else, and the great performance of Safonov. It was boring at times, PSG had accustomed us to something else. But they were extremely cold emotionally. I think they gained experience from their penalty shootout in Liverpool, during the European Super Cup (2-2, 4-3 on penalties against Tottenham). You have to know how to win without being perfect, and they did it. Real Madrid has often done it too.

In the first half, I found that pressing and counter-pressing that were their strength last season, so that's a positive point. After that, we expected more chances, there were technical inaccuracies, little danger in front of the opponent's goal, but I remember the result. That's all we'll remember in a few years anyway.

Roche "They haven't found last year's team play."

Why did Paris lack intensity?

Fatigue, perhaps. I saw Neves put his hands on his knees at the end of the match, a less compact team too. They haven't found last year's team play. I don't know if you can win every season like that. Luis Enrique also changed the three forwards, which means something.

We haven't yet seen the good Dembélé, but the one returning to competition. He didn't hit the target with his shots, including the penalty. He has only played 12 matches this season (13 in reality), he needs to play more, to regain his sensations. I hope we'll see the Dembélé of the last six months and not the one of the first six. But he has to take responsibility for everything that happened to him and get back in the game."

Indeed, we can't say that PSG was particularly strong in play during this final. Even though there were good phases that shouldn't be forgotten either. Paris didn't miss out. There was domination, but only at times. And, once again, with a lack of efficiency.

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They must then find other resources to win a final, and the Parisians managed to do so with notable mental strength. The last 4 penalty shootouts, in 4 different competitions, have been won. It's no coincidence. This also makes the difference in achieving 6 titles in 2025.

Now, PSG needs to regain its great collective strength if it hopes to go all the way again in the 2025-2026 season. There's no need to worry yet, the difficulties encountered are logical. There was no physical preparation and a particularly busy year.

So, there's a bit of a lack of physical strength, and there have been injuries. Like Ousmane Dembélé (28-year-old forward), still far from being at his best. The Parisians should gain momentum as the season progresses and have made good progress in the first part of the season. The philosophy of play is still there, it just needs to be reinstalled over 90 minutes.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.