Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have become a more stable team since Kylian Mbappe left for Real Madrid earlier this summer. However, the Frenchman said Mbappe’s departure was still a loss as the team had lost some “magic”.
PSG was soundly defeated by PSV Eindhoven.
French champion PSG faced PSV Eindhoven at Parc des Princes, where the third match of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season was held. With three points from their first two matches (1W, 1L), the Parisians needed a positive result against the Dutch team.
Luis Enrique’s side started strong but were trailing 1-0 just before the half-hour mark and Noa Lang went against the run of play to give the visitors the lead. Les Parisiens started the second half stronger and were level after just 10 minutes before Achraf Hakimi pulled the trigger in the 55th minute. However, it was a good result for the home side as they failed to find a winner in the remaining 40 minutes despite finishing with an xG of 2.57. The match ended 1-1 in Paris, dropping the club to 17th place in the standings.
Thierry Henry explains the impact of Kylian Mbappe’s departure
Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo, 1998 FIFA World Cup winner Henry spoke about how things have changed at PSG following Mbappe’s departure. He started (via GOAL):
“I think they are a team. It’s more stable and has fewer counters. But they still lost Mbappe. Very difficult. For example, in a game like that, Kylian could make it 2-1 or turn it into a last-minute winning goal, a moment of magic. He can change it. Although they’ve lost a bit of their magic, the team looks a little more sound in terms of balance. But obviously the results are not good..”
When Jamie Carragher asked whether Mbappe’s departure had reduced the pressure on PSG, Henry responded:
“No, it’s the same. You decide to get rid of those people. The crowd and everything, they decided to go younger and that’s what they were calling it when I was in France. But you can’t be completely young again too soon. You should have two men who can be around. Marquinhos stayed. [Achraf] Hakimi is passing veteran status. There should also be people who can help those people get better. Just because Kylian Mbappe left doesn’t mean things have gotten easier. [Luis Enrique] We must be disappointed with the result tonight.”
Mbappe emerged as PSG’s all-time leading scorer while playing for PSG for seven years from 2017 to 2024. He has made 308 appearances across all competitions, scoring 256 times and providing 108 assists.
