PSG under Mauricio Pochettino are a team of individuals, not a side that’s playing like champions

The assessment is pretty simple to make now. This is arguably Paris Saint-Germain’s most talented squad, both individually and collectively. Never since Qatar Sports Investment took over 10 years ago, and not before them either, have PSG been so strong. Even though they’re cruising domestically, this feels like PSG’s worst season in terms of performance, style, content, entertainment or swagger. It has been despairing to watch at times.

Results-wise — and this is a results business at its core, of course — it’s been satisfying, with only two defeats all season: at Manchester City in the Champions League (2-1) and at Rennes (2-0) in Ligue 1. PSG are already through to the Champions League last 16, though in second place, and are 11 points clear at the top of the league in France. However, if we look closer, their record this season against the other “top five” teams in Ligue 1 is a source of frustration: 0-0 in Marseille, 0-2 away at Rennes, 0-0 vs Nice and 1-1 at Lens this past Saturday. (That Lens draw was nearly a defeat, too, until Georginio Wijnaldum popped up to head home Kylian Mbappe’s cross.)

That’s zero wins, one goal scored across the four matches and, more importantly, no real passages of dominant play against their most immediate challengers. As with Wijnaldum’s late goal against Lens, PSG have been saved several times by their individual talents in the late stages of matches his season: Five of their wins in Ligue 1 came via a game-winner inside the final 10 minutes.

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This doesn’t feel like PSG, certainly not the PSG of the last 10 years. Winning has always been important, but victory without substance is not enough. Mauricio Pochettino…