As we enter Champions League Final week, the prize all of Europe’s top clubs are seeking, one club is really struggling to put their hands on the silverware despite their current status.
PSG was formed in 1970, a really new club compared to the European juggernauts like Juventus, Madrid, Barca and Bayern. Alongside Liverpool, European success just seems to come their way. In more recent times PSG has been spring boarded into the big time. Now their name sits alongside these European giants. This have largely been brought about by QSI’s investment in the club.
With the big ‘establishments’ of football, like Madrid, the winning is in their culture, everything is underpinned by a clear philosophy, a belief in the process, and a desire to continue to deliver on what decades of Madrid teams have already produced.
At Barcelona, football is feeling, and when you step inside the walls of Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, you understand what that feeling is.
I can’t identify what PSG’s philosophy is. Until Pep, you couldn’t identify City’s, so do they have one or is it just the way Pep is doing it for now? Arsenal had a clear style under Graham, it was us against them, and under Wenger at the start it was pass and move, energy and excitement, but that has been lost over recent seasons. Where is the clubs identity? Are they living on privilege?
At PSG money has given them a feeling of privilege. That they just have to turn up to win. The feeling of destiny to win comes from spending money, it isn’t underpinned by tradition or philosophy. Privilege is often seen as power but actually ‘privilege’ has been undone time and time again, not just in sport, where people triumph despite what is seen as a disadvantage. Of course if you are born into money, or born into a culture where you have a clear advantage, it helps, but it doesn’t always work out that way in the end!
Man City seem to fall foul of the same path as PSG, people within these two clubs feel unfairly treated by financial fair play, and with no evidence, it seems from the outside they at least push the boundaries of these rules. Do they feel they are too big to be punished? City also have impressed with their style under Pep, they are feeling a little more love from the outside world than PSG, but the sense of privilege doesn’t work for City in Europe either.
Even with money and power, or what we term privilege, it is important to underpin that with something like hunger, passion, and integrity. The phrase ‘Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard’ is commonly used, but should be fully understood by people in a ‘Privileged’ position.
Pep must be thinking ‘what do I have to do to be loved’ at Man City. Even with PSG’s riches, you can already see rumours of Mbappe leaving circling, even with all the money in the world, you can’t always keep everyone happy. It needs to go deeper.
Steps for PSG To overcome their privilege status;
Accept it! Acknowledge Privilege – you have money thats why your successful and you have to accept that there will always be that pointed at you.
Develop a clear philosophy – not around money – but who are you? The club should hold local peoples values in its heart to be part of their community. Hard work is often a starting point. But over time, if you have a clear identity this will be accepted and become part of your success. Man Utd, attacking football, Barcelona, tika taka, Juventus, hard work and passion.
Opt out! Your identity doesn’t have to always be about spending £250mil on the World’s top talent. In real terms you need to find a balance in your squad and players who fit your philosophy may come from your academy, or even cost a lot less. You can also say no! You have Neymar, do you need to chase Mbappe?
I think Real Madrid could also been found guilty of relying on their previous success with this seasons terrible form, but you can be sure in Madrid, they will address the balance of privilege. Will PSG?
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 27TH MAY 2019
