Paris St Germain
Last Season: Ligue 1 – Champions; Coupe de France – Last 16; UEFA Champions League: Last 16; Top Scorer – Kylian Mbappe (39)
The Question: Is it time to Truly take PSG seriously?
We’ve been here before, haven’t we? In fact, we were here in the summer of 2021. When it looks like PSG are making astute signings, and crafting a solid balanced side, a star name triggers the shopaholic in them. Suddenly Paris St Germain the team becomes Paris the Brand once again. It’s part of the reason 2021/22 felt like a damp squib. PSG regained the title under Mauricio Pochettino, but the inability to look like a compelling team helped in their early elimination from the Champions League, and by extension, the end of Poch’s time in Paris.
But they look to be going in a different, and more cohesive, direction once more. And this time, at the risk of ‘fool me twice’, maybe it feels legitimate. There’s the fact that the club managed to get Kylian Mbappe to sign a contract extension – basically making him part-general-manager, apparently – when it looked all but certain that he’d join Real Madrid. Then there’s the case that Pochettino’s departure was followed by the exit of Leonardo as well, who’s replaced by Luis Campos.
Christophe Galtier is the new manager, and the transfers that have happened since his appointment speak to a team interested in strengthening key areas and not a club interested in lush signings. PSG’s midfield lacked thrust and invention without Marco Verratti last season, so Vitinha and Renato Sanches have arrived to significantly deal with that flaw. Again, it’s easy to fall for the Parisian project, they’ve gotten quite good at flattering to deceive; but there has been a major shake-up in the summer, and perhaps it truly is for the better this time.
The Manager – Christophe Galtier
The former St Etienne boss worked minor miracles with Lille, with three successive top-four finishes, the last of which was a league title. His time with Nice last season saw a second half of the campaign that fizzled out after a bright start, but he has very much earned his big job. There will be questions tactically about going up against Europe’s elite on the continental, given he’s a relative unknown in that area. But Galtier has proven himself to be an astute and calculating manager, and it looks like he’s alongside a hierarchy that’s finally interested in the team’s fit.
Real Madrid
Last Season: La Liga – Champions; Copa del Rey – Quarter-final; UEFA Champions League – Winners; Top Scorer – Karim Benzema (44)
The Question: Is Hazard finally ready to sparkle at the Bernabeu?
Real Madrid pretty much had it all last season. In the case of logic vs narrative, it was the latter that won out for Los Blancos. They made a managerial appointment that reeked of a club trying to stave off a much-needed reshuffle, and didn’t change much of the old guard, while losing key players. Yet, the club ended up with their second league and Champions League double of the century.
But while it was all smiles at the Spanish capital, one man who didn’t have the best of seasons at the club was Eden Hazard. ‘It’s a mix…’, he said to ESPN. ‘You’re happy for the boys, you’re happy for the fans… but I was not playing that much’. The Belgian got his hands on the Champions League, but it was very much ‘getting graded without really contributing to the group project’ energy. Last season, Hazard played 23 games in all competitions, and scored just once (in the Spanish Cup). Yet in terms of games played – but not minutes – that was his most in a Real shirt. Beset by injuries, he has not been anywhere near the form of his final season at Chelsea, which earned him the move to Real. But it’s something he’s keen to put right.
‘Madridistas, I’ve been here for three years, with a lot of injuries’, he said during last season’s celebrations at the Cibeles. ‘But next year I’ll give everything for you’. And for some reason, this season feels different, as Hazard looks to be putting in the yards in pre-season. He talked about offers to move away, but stated his desire to prove himself at the Bernabeu is strong. ‘I’m good, I’m healthy, you know…’ he told ESPN. ‘I’m ready to play’.
Playing is the key word for Hazard, a player who has not had up to 1600 minutes (which would clock to 17 games) at any point in his three-year period with Real Madrid. And with Kylian Mbappe having said no despite looking like he’s previously said yet, Real’s attack is still in need of a boost – they still look underwhelming whenever Karim Benzema isn’t available. A fit Eden Hazard pretty much fixes that.
The Manager – Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian’s appointment raised a few (here it comes) eyebrows, as it seemed to have the bearings of a choice being made to stave off an actual reworking of the side. But Ancelotti coasted his way to a league title, and danced to yet another Champions League crown. There’s still a lot of conviction to be made about whether last season’s European exploits was the luckiest of rides, but this is a very likeable, and astute under-the-radar tactician.
Roma
Last Season: Serie A – 6th; Coppa Italia – Quarter-final; UEFA Europa Conference League – Winners; Top Scorer – Tammy Abraham (27)
The Question: Are Roma now primed for a title race?
Yes, it’s the eternal obsession with Jose Mourinho. No matter where he seems to pop up, the spotlight always follows the Portuguese. But perhaps it’s not just blind obsession, and a hankering for the theatrics. Mourinho and Roma may have comfortably finished outside the top four in Serie A, but they won a much-coveted European trophy in the form of the Europa Conference League, and only lost just two of their last 17 games in the league. The squad is happy, and confident.
And that upbeat mood from last season might be continuing, if you look at the club’s summer activity. Paulo Dybala has joined on a free, Nemanja Matic as well, while Zeki Celik is also an addition. Georginio Wijnaldum is set to be another new face, and the Andrea Belotti rumours are not going away. Sprinkle in the uncertainty surrounding the other teams that finished above them last season, and maybe, just maybe, Roma are finally in it for the long haul? Th Giallorossi haven’t won the title in over two decades, and haven’t really challenged in six years, something that might change this term. Roll the tape, the Jose Mourinho Show renews for another season.
The Manager – Jose Mourinho
The tattoo said it all, Mourinho has triumphed in all existing tiers of European club football. But that probably also speaks to a larger picture, of a happy Jose, and an excited Jose. The sulking over transfers has been minimal. There have been few scapegoated targets in the squad. Then you consider that this is the Jose second season, with a team that would be still be considered underdogs. It’s happening, isn’t it?
Tottenham Hotspur
Last Season: Premier League – 4th; FA Cup – 5th Round; League Cup – Semi-final; UEFA Europa Conference – Group Stage; Top Scorer – Harry Kane (27)
The Question: Are Tottenham ready to win the league?
The short answer? No.
Last season offered a sense of what might have been for Spurs. What if they had appointed Antonio Conte at the start of the season, instead of three months after? Spurs’ form since Conte’s arrival speaks for itself; in that mini-league table, they’d be third. They won 11 of their final 16 games under the Italian, and only losing one. It was very much title form.
Or was it? Ultimately, that mini-league table still saw them 17 points behind the top two, speaking to the standard Manchester City and Liverpool continue to set. Spurs may have improved massively since last October, but they didn’t outperform City or Liverpool in any metric. It speaks to the fact that it’s not enough to be good, and even really good doesn’t count anymore. You have to exceptional to match the standards of the top two.
But things are looking up for Spurs. It’s hard to imagine that it’s barely been a year since the Nuno Espirito Santo era, which started after a 72-day search, and ended in uninspiring fashion. Spurs have a manager capable of outsmarting the big guns, no key players wanting to leave, and a refreshed squad with proper quality and depth. Their early season showing will probably determine what happens this term. By the start of October, Spurs will have played Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, all away from home.
Perhaps a first trophy since 2008 looks a possibility. Will that trophy be a league title? Probably not; but they can hope again.
The Manager – Antonio Conte
The Italian has spoken of his happiness with Spurs’ transfer activity, a thing that’s not usual for him, if his recent club exits are anything to go by. Inspired Spurs back to the Champions League, and was the only manager not to lose to either Liverpool or City. Has downplayed title talk, but the way looks up for his time at North London.
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