Between gratitude, collective pride and implicit messages, the PSG president slipped in a sentence that could be an allusion to Kylian Mbappé.
On Saturday night, Paris Saint-Germain finally won the Champions League, a dream come true after many years of frustration. Two days later, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, at the heart of this immense project led by QSI since 2011, spoke in an interview with TalkSport. It was an opportunity for the Parisian president to share his impressions, pay tribute to the club’s veterans… and advocate for a new philosophy. Some perceived his remarks as a subtle swipe at a former star of the squad.
A tribute to the pioneers of the QSI era
The Qatari leader did not forget those who laid the foundations of the project. Filled with emotion, he paid tribute to those who, without ever lifting the trophy, built the club’s solid foundations.
“I want to thank all the players. The first professional player we signed, Javier Pastore, believed in our project. Our former captain Thiago Silva, Zlatan, Cavani, Di Maria… (…) And even Neymar, Messi, Kylian, what they brought to the club, we will never forget.”
Luis Enrique, a decisive choice
The president also welcomed the decision made at the start of the season: to entrust the reins to Luis Enrique. This strategic shift has allowed PSG to return to a more collective, younger, and more committed style of play. A team less focused on individuals, according to him.
“Yes, we changed our strategy after everything we’ve achieved, after our mistakes. I’m not saying everything was perfect, but I know it was essential to take those steps. (…) We’ve entered a new phase with young and talented players. Today we have stars. You saw yesterday that the best player in the UEFA [Champions League] is Ousmane Dembélé.”
A valued collective, far from the “star system”
The message is clear: at PSG version 2025, the team takes precedence over individuals.
“UEFA’s Best Young Player is Désiré Doué. Seven of the eleven starting players in the Champions League team of the year are Parisians. What does that mean? That we have exceptional star players. But these stars play for the team, not the team for the stars. That’s what makes all the difference today. We have hungry young players who want to give their all for the shirt, for the club, for the team, and for the fans.”
It’s hard not to hear an implicit reference to Kylian Mbappé, who left for Real Madrid and was long considered the linchpin of PSG.
A call for calm after the riots in Paris
Finally, while celebration should have been the only watchword, the violence on the fringes of the celebrations also caught the president’s attention.
“There are individuals who simply want to cause trouble or damage property. It’s really sad. (…) I urge everyone to remain calm and enjoy the party as much as possible, but please take care of yourselves and other supporters,” he concluded.
