Ligue 1 – Luis Enrique, Donnarumma, Vitinha, Mbappé… Who is the strong man for the 12th Parisian title?

To forget the contrasting end of the Christophe Galtier era, the leaders of PSG bet on Luis Enrique. This 180 degree turn was certainly the best thing to do for the French champion. Certainly, the Asturian technician initially fumbled a little. But his playing philosophy was well infused in his protégés, who were able to satisfy his obsession with possession, while combining speed and verticality thanks to their offensive arrows. This winning combo allowed Paris to concede only one defeat so far in Ligue 1 and to remain undefeated for five months in all competitions.

Beyond the game, there is also the management of people. This subject had proven to be so thorny for many coaches who have worked with the capital club in recent years. Not for the Spaniard, who imposed strict discipline on his players, skillfully handling requirements and frankness, proximity and firmness. His almost permanent turnover affected his entire workforce. Including Kylian Mbappé, which inevitably caused a few sparks. With Luis Enrique, there is finally no more status or privileges. A major and successful change, which undoubtedly makes him the strong man for this twelfth national coronation.

The big man of this twelfth Parisian title. And not just by size. Without him, PSG would often have given in. He has, in the end, only faltered, and lost only once so far. After having experienced a number of difficulties since his arrival at PSG, sometimes symbolizing the collective bankruptcy of his team, particularly in the Champions League, Gianluigi Donnarumma has raised his level this season. At least in Ligue 1. With a save percentage of 84.7%, the former AC Milan goalkeeper is the best performer in the five major championships. On numerous occasions during this 2023-2024 financial year, he has disgusted a good number of attackers and teams, starting with certain historic rivals, from OM, obviously, to AS Monaco. Thanks to his services, Paris will produce one of its best defensive copies over a season (25 goals conceded) and have avoided defeats and crises.

So yes, his performance in C1 (where his save percentage drops to 71.4%) is still questionable and some of his faults (footing, exits, etc.) remain obvious. His performance in the upcoming double fixture against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final will be closely scrutinized. But in L1, there is no debate. Donnarumma has dominated outrageously this season, performing a good dozen miracles to save his family. Without the slightest doubt, he won points for his team. The mark of great goalkeepers.

This 12th Parisian title is certainly not the most striking, as usual. But it will undoubtedly remain the coronation of the seesaw, between a PSG studded with stars and another where no privilege is authorized, not even to Kylian Mbappé. No other man than Vitinha, hardworking and talented, better embodies this new Parisian face. Widely discussed and debatable last season, the Portuguese midfielder took on another dimension in the collective set up by Luis Enrique and it was no coincidence that he was the most used outfield player in Ligue 1 before being put in the fridge for the trip to Lorient on Wednesday, with a view to the semi-final of the Champions League.

Having become one of the darlings of the Parc des Princes, in particular thanks to his top-flight performances in the Champions League, the former Porto player has also filled an old Parisian gap. PSG finally has a midfielder capable of making a real offensive contribution, in addition to finding verticality through the pass. In less than two seasons at the club, Vitinha has already scored as much as Marco Verratti during his entire career in Paris (11 goals). And he often did it in important matches, like in Rennes, against Monaco or Marseille. And that matters. A few weeks ago, Luis Enrique perfectly summed up the Portuguese’s role: “He’s a perfect player for a coach of my style“. All is said.

Yes, PSG knows how to score without Kylian Mbappé, who had not scored any of his team’s last eight goals in Ligue 1, before the match at Lorient on Wednesday (1-4), where he scored a double. But he played… 88 minutes, in total, over the three matches concerned by this series, and before that remained on a hat-trick in Montpellier. A performance in Hérault which was possibly the best of his season, precisely at the time when Luis Enrique’s management of his playing time was the most debated. As a nod to the start of the season where, reinstated after being dismissed by his management, he scored as soon as he came into play for his return to Toulouse. Mbappé, that’s it. The goal, all the time, in all circumstances, with the wind at your back or in front.

He is by far the top scorer in Ligue 1 (26 goals), the one who has scored in the most different matches (16), and even the one who has made the most assists (7) – including one after extraordinary work in Lorient on Wednesday – among the top 10 top scorers in the elite. An insatiable scorer, whose constant appetite is one of the keys to avoiding slackening, in a championship not at the level of this PSG… precisely because Mbappé is the player who currently separates Paris from the rest of the world. Parisian domination will perhaps be just as clear after his departure, and in a more collective way, the work of Luis Enrique being bearing fruit. But not everything has always been bright in this season of transition. And in Toulouse (1-1) or against Lens (3-1), in Brest (2-3) or against Metz (3-1), Paris still really needed him. For me, the strong man is still Mbappé.