With six goals already this season, the 22-year-old represents the biggest threat to Arsenal's hopes of victory at the Emirates on Tuesday
Luis Enrique hates talking to the press. He openly admits he'd gladly take a significant pay cut if it meant avoiding any media duties. So, last season was tough going for the prickly Spaniard, given he had had to deal with constant questions about Kylian Mbappe's future.
Luis Enrique still wasn't happy to see the France forward leave for Real Madrid. Far from it, in fact. Despite the annoying and incessant transfer talk surrounding his star player, the combative coach found Mbappe a pleasure to deal with.
"On a human level, he was exceptional, which you rarely see when you see a player at this level," the former Barcelona boss said in a documentary. "[He was] human and affectionate. He is also obviously a marvellous player. What a shame that he went to Real Madrid, especially for us at the time."
The use of "at the time" is telling, though, because PSG are presently coping wonderfully well without their all-time leading scorer, who accounted for a third of their goals last term. Indeed, while Luis Enrique is still having to deal with Mbappe-related questions, now they're primarily focused on whether he already has the perfect replacement in Bradley Barcola.
Surprise top scorer
Last December, Luis Enrique described Barcola as not only the "future" of PSG, but also its "present". His world-class potential had certainly been obvious during his first few months at Parc des Princes after joining from Lyon in August 2023, but there were doubts over whether he was quite ready to fill the void left behind by Mbappe – particularly from a goal-scoring perspective.
For all his encouraging performances last season, the €45 million (£38m/$45m) signing still only managed to net five times in 39 appearances in all competitions. However, he's the top scorer in Ligue 1 right now, having bagged six goals in his first six games for the undefeated table-toppers.
AdvertisementGetty'They run a lot more'
Barcola's work-rate is arguably of even greater significance than his strike-rate, though, with the 22-year-old a key part of PSG's press, which probably best illustrates the shift in strategy we're seeing at Parc des Princes, where everyone is now obliged to contribute from a defensive perspective.
Indeed, after his Brest side had been beaten 3-1 in Paris earlier this season, coach Eric Roy was asked about PSG's play without Mbappe and told ," They run a lot more. Collectively, they are a lot better than last season.
"I found that when they lost the ball, everyone made an effort; they were well-organised. It was less easy for us to play against them, compared to last year."
This was Luis Enrique's objective all along: to mould a group of individuals into a proper team.
AFPCollective identity
There's plenty of work still to do, of course. PSG made seriously hard work of beating Girona in their Champions League opener, with the Parisians indebted to a dreadful goalkeeping error from Paulo Gazzaniga for their 90th-minute winner. Luis Enrique admitted afterwards, "I suffered a lot during this match, more than during childbirth – and I witnessed several, even if I was not the main protagonist!"
His labour is already bearing fruit, though, as is the decision to resist the temptation to make an expensive summer signing to replace Mbappe's goals. There was an assumption that PSG would break the bank for Napoli's Victor Osimhen but they instead opted to strengthen their midfield and defence by bringing in Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Willian Pacho and goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
Despite the lack of an orthodox No.9 (Goncalo Ramos is presently out injured), PSG have already scored 20 times in Ligue 1 this season. As club captain Marquinhos said, "The manager knew that other players would step up… He has led us with the philosophy that he wants for the club, and it is an increasingly collective identity."
AFP'One for all, and all for one!'
The change in approach is certainly working well so far, with the vast majority of the the PSG squad having bought into the new team ethos.
"This side can go far," Barcola told after scoring twice in Friday's 3-1 win over Rennes. "When we play like that, all together, we are unstoppable."
That remains to be seen, of course. Arsenal away represents the first true test of Luis Enrique's new-look PSG, with the Gunners having made an unbeaten start to their Premier League campaign, and when it comes to the club from the French capital, the question is always, how will they cope under pressure?
The coach is confident that his squad is made of sterner stuff than past PSG teams. "You see it on the pitch," he told after the 6-0 win over Montpellier. "It's one for all and all for one, like the Three Musketeers! And that is marvellous in a team sport."