The Daly Brief | PSG | UEFA Super Cup

Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit, will once again offer his expert analysis ahead of every game this season - starting off with the UEFA Super Cup against Champions League winners PSG in Udine, Italy on Wednesday evening (8pm UK).

PSG

Paris Saint-Germain are the world’s best team right now. Marauding full backs, a slick midfield, options out wide and 2025’s premier player make this the toughest of tests in Udine.

Form

First of all, what condition are PSG in? It’s a month to the day since their last match, the Club World Cup Final against Chelsea and, after a break, the French champions only returned to training last Wednesday. Despite that 3-0 defeat in New Jersey, Luis Enrique’s side have been incredible in 2025. They finished 15th in the League Phase of the Champions League but kicked on a level from January onwards to beat Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Inter as they lifted the European Cup for the first time. Even in the United States over the summer, they beat Atletico, Bayern and Real Madrid - scoring 10 goals across those three games without conceding.

One to watch

PSG’s high functioning and technically gifted midfield is one of their reasons for success. With no defined number 10, the trio are positionally interchangeable making Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves and Vitinha difficult to deal with. Vitinha, for me, especially caught the eye. Boasting an innate ability to win the ball, a top range of passing as well the quality and energy to carry the ball upfield (re-watch the way he made Doue’s second goal in the Champions League Final), it’s no surprise he’s one of nine PSG players on the Ballon D’Or shortlist.

Talking tactics

Luis Enrique sets his side up 4-3-3 in a system that gives his full-backs, arguably the best pair in world football, remarkable license to get forward and pop up in unexpected areas. Just look back at how both Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes appeared as the most advanced players to score in PSG’s Champions League quarter-final tie at Aston Villa. Mendes had already scored in the first leg, while Hakimi fired home from the edge of the box against Arsenal in the semi-finals, before inexplicably being in the number 9 position to finish from a few yards out against Inter in the final. A big call in terms of team selection will likely centre around whether to play Bradley Barcola (21 goals, 21 assists last season) or Desire Doue (16 goals, 16 assists) on the wing. In the Champions League last season, Barcola was often deployed in games where a lot of space in behind a defence is expected, using his pace and big strides to cause problems. Doue got the nod against teams that would defend in a lower block - perhaps why he started the Champions League final against Inter’s rigid 3-5-2 - scoring twice in a 5-0 win.

The key battle

Ousmane Dembele has transformed from winger to prolific number nine since the turn of the year. Adding various things to his game - the France international is such a threat when dropping deep, away from defenders, to whip a pass wide to one of their talented wingers. The France international will then charge forward to meet crosses or cutbacks to score - like his similar goals away at Liverpool and Arsenal last season. With Romero being so good and aggressive on the front foot, I imagine he’ll follow Dembele when he drops to link play, leaving the rapid Micky van de Ven to deal with anything played in behind.

When I think of PSG...

I think of intensity. Having ditched their Galactico transfer model, Luis Enrique has fostered a real team spirit and desire to press aggressively out of possession. They still invest in big money signings (spending £208m on five players last season) but it seems the new arrivals have bought into the idea of the collective. Dembele leads that press from the front and sets the tone - so can Spurs play around it?