The Athletic FC Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode: Can PSG win the Champions League again?
Date: March 10, 2026
Host: Ayo Akimolere
Guests: Tom Williams, Karl Anker (with contributions from Liam Rosenhea)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into Paris Saint-Germain’s turbulent quest to defend their Champions League crown. Host Ayo Akimolere is joined by football journalists Tom Williams and Karl Anker, who dissect PSG’s recent slump, their physical and tactical challenges, and the wider implications for French football—including a rare, genuine Ligue 1 title race. The trio also discuss how Chelsea could pose a threat in the Champions League, the makeup of this season’s European favorites, and the shifting narrative around club dominance in France and beyond.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

PSG’s Champions League Defence: Where Has the Spark Gone?

• Struggle for Form & Consistency

  • PSG have not rediscovered last season’s level, struggling for fluency and form despite the same core squad and coach (Luis Enrique).

  • Recent Ligue 1 loss to Monaco saw media like L’Équipe declare PSG “on the brink of crisis.”

  • Early season Champions League group games showed promise (4-0 win vs Atalanta, 7-1 win over Leverkusen), but latter stages exposed inconsistency (only 2 points from final 3 games).

    “The more that time has gone on, the further away from that level they have got.” – Tom Williams [02:19]

  • Injuries and a lack of squad depth have disrupted PSG’s “finely calibrated style.” The team relied on a tight-knit XI last season, which is no longer possible.

• Physical & Mental Drain Noticeable

  • The extended campaign, including the Club World Cup, has left the squad fatigued.

  • Key departures and changes—especially Gianluigi Donnarumma being replaced by Luca Chevalier, and then Matt Safonov in goal—have weakened defensive solidity.

    “A slightly smaller squad that played a ridiculous amount of football... Two or three changes at the back, two or three players who are older and/or injured, and all of a sudden the team... is good-ish.” – Karl Anker [08:05]

  • Veterans Marquinhos and Hakimi (diminished by age and injury), plus attacking injuries to Dembele and fluctuating form of key midfielders, compound the issues.

• Why the Struggles?

  • Last year’s triumph relied on squad health, little domestic pressure, tactical freshness, and a core group peaking together. The “planets aligned,” but this season, persistent injuries and a resurgent Ligue 1 title race have disrupted the formula.

    “Because none of his players were injured... he could work with that very small group of players week after week after week... extremely well-drilled kind of football.” – Tom Williams [09:44]

Chelsea Challenge & Champions League Outlook

• Chelsea’s Position

  • Managed by Liam Rosenhea, who previously frustrated PSG with Strasbourg. Chelsea come in with a deeper squad, perhaps higher confidence, and less fear.

    “He talked about his history... playing the bigger teams and not really touching the ball because everyone’s game plan was about sitting in deep... But with Chelsea, it’s: Go for it.” – Karl Anker on Rosenhea’s mentality [14:39]

• Tactical Matchup

  • Chelsea’s physical Premier League attributes could trouble PSG’s current fragility—especially given PSG’s struggles to maintain their high-pressing, possession-based identity when squad rotation is forced.

    “I’m really interested to see how Premier League combativeness works against a PSG team that can be very, very good at using possession as a defensive tool.” – Karl Anker [17:11]

• Still a Stacked PSG Squad... On Paper

  • Ousmane Dembele’s moments of brilliance (Lille, Marseille games) demonstrate the side’s potential, but his frequent injuries expose PSG’s lack of creative redundancy.

  • Attempts to use Bradley Bar as a false 9 have shown flashes but highlight a broader issue: the gap between individual talent and cohesive team performance.

    “Even when [Dembele] isn’t there… they look to him. They’re used to him dropping in, dragging centre backs around and creating space…” – Tom Williams [19:31]

Ligue 1: A Real Title Race for Once?

• PSG’s Usual Dominance — Under Threat

  • Since 2012, only Lille and Monaco have interrupted PSG’s reign—but this year, Lens are mounting an unlikely challenge.

  • The episode contextualizes the importance of non-PSG title wins given the league’s broadcast and talent drain issues.

    “If you can win the French league for someone that isn’t PSG—that is a heavier medal.” – Karl Anker [22:08]

• Lens’ Fairy Tale

  • Lens, with limited resources, sell their best players year after year and still compete via smart coaching and recruitment. Their home atmosphere and underdog spirit make them an unusually popular contender.

    “This is a proper underdog story... stadium’s always full, super noisy, super colorful... For the good of French football, it would be great if they can push PSG all the way.” – Tom Williams [27:52]

Champions League: Prognosis and Predictions

• Wider Field, New Favourites

  • The expanded Champions League format, physical toll, and increased parity blurs the lines between “great” and “good” teams. Arsenal and Bayern Munich are highlighted as favorites for their squad depth and tactical balance.

    “I can’t think of many more pleasing forward lines... than Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz, and Harry Kane.” – Tom Williams [39:48]

  • Karl Anker points to Arsenal’s easier bracket and squad rotation as key factors in a campaign where depth is more valuable than ever.

    “If Arsenal don’t get to the final, I’d be surprised. And if they don’t get to the semi final, someone else on that side of the bracket would have had to go supernova to get it done.” – Karl Anker [41:43]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On PSG’s Physical and Mental Decline:
  “This PSG team came into the new season quite tired.” – Karl Anker [06:19]

• On Club World Cup Impact:
  “Chelsea can stomach that quick turnaround a bit more because they have a... very deep squad... PSG for managerial reasons, Luis Enrique doesn’t like working with a particularly large squad.” – Karl Anker [07:05]

• On French Football Parity:
  “The French League finds it increasingly hard to produce good teams because... two or three good players emerge... a Premier League club goes, thanks mate, I’ll have that.” – Karl Anker [22:45]

• On the Lens Story:
  “Players whose careers were drifting, players who looked like they’d reached a dead end... have now proven themselves as being among the very best players in Ligue 1.” – Tom Williams [27:52]

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------| | 01:08 | Episode intro, PSG’s declining form | | 02:02 | Tom Williams on club’s crisis of confidence | | 03:31 | French media’s critical coverage | | 05:39 | Karl Anker on Club World Cup fatigue & squad depth | | 09:44 | Tom Williams on last season’s PSG success recipe | | 13:30 | Chelsea vs PSG tactical preview; Rosenhea interview | | 14:39 | Liam Rosenhea on fearlessness vs PSG | | 17:40 | On the dangers of underestimating PSG’s attack | | 19:31 | Tom Williams on Dembele’s critical role and injuries | | 22:03 | Ligue 1 title race: broadcast challenges, outsider value | | 27:46 | Lens’ underdog narrative and keys to their rise | | 39:48 | Who wins the Champions League? Bayern and Arsenal picks | | 41:43 | Arsenal’s favorable bracket and depth in new format |

Conclusion

This episode spotlights PSG’s struggle to recapture last season’s European dominance amid fatigue, injuries, and a newly competitive Ligue 1. The panel’s analysis clarifies how factors like squad management, domestic competition, and external tournaments (like the Club World Cup) have influenced their downturn. The attention also shifts to the potential for a truly open Ligue 1 race, why Arsenal and Bayern might be the real Champions League favorites, and what this flux means for the broader European football landscape.

For anyone keen to know why PSG’s Champions League repeat is under serious threat, and what it means for French and European football, this episode provides deep, incisive context and a few rays of hope for the underdog.