Former Paris Saint-Germain defender Godwin Okpara during an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa has stated that PSG are no longer a one-man show, and that is precisely why they can conquer Europe again.
The French champions face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on 30 May. While much of the pre-match focus has centered on PSG’s dangerous attack led by current Balon D’or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Okpara insists that Luis Enrique’s side has evolved beyond a reliance on individual superstars and credited Luis Enrique for building a highly fluid, collective frontline where players are flourishing side by side.
Teamwork over superstars
“There is a lot of quality in this PSG squad, and they do not depend solely on Ousmane Dembélé,” Okpara exclusively told Footy-Africa. “It is an elite team because they no longer play through just one player.”
“Look at their tactical formation. Even Achraf Hakimi operates with the impact of an attacker, but he is fundamentally a defender. Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have good understanding and they play as a collective unit, and they win as a team. That is the only way to secure the biggest trophies.”
“In the past, during the era of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, the entire burden of the club was placed strictly on their shoulders. That is exactly why they did not get the results they wanted on the European stage. The PSG team we are seeing now is entirely different. It is built on pure teamwork, not individual egos.”
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Immovable object meets irresistible force
The showpiece event in Budapest presents a classic tactical clash. Arsenal arrive with Europe’s meanest defense, having conceded just six goals and kept nine clean sheets on their march to the final. Conversely, the reigning champions boast one of the most fluid and unpredictable attacking lines on the continent.
Okpara predicts an open, high-scoring encounter but believes the holders hold the upper hand in terms of personnel.
”It is going to be an incredibly tough match because both teams are exceptionally strong in their respective areas,” Okpara added. “I am expecting to see plenty of goals in this final.”
”But when you look closely at the squads—ranking them position by position from the goalkeeper, through the defense, into midfield, and up to the attack—PSG simply possess more quality players. For that reason, I see them winning it.”
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Shedding the ‘Farmers League’ tag
For years, critics have dismissed France’s Ligue 1 as a non-competitive division, but Okpara believes PSG’s sustained excellence and a return to the Champions League final is a massive validation for French football.
”This is their time,” said Okpara, who also spent a significant portion of his playing career with Strasbourg and in Belgium with Standard Liege.
“Reaching a major global showcase like the FIFA Club World Cup and another Champions League final is a great thing for the French football. I have never understood why people try to label the Ligue 1 as a ‘farmers league.’ When I was playing in Belgium, Ligue 1 was the competition that the majority of people actively wanted to watch.”
”The French league has a long, rich history and has consistently featured some of the game’s greatest global stars. Ultimately, how a league is perceived comes down to sponsorship and how you promote it. England does that marketing job incredibly well, but French football has always been elite. PSG have suffered for a very long time to establish this consistency, and I am happy to see them there.”
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Spanish managerial gold rush
While Spanish clubs have struggled to reach the final hurdles of European competitions over the last two seasons, Spanish managers continue to dominate the continental landscape.
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and PSG’s Luis Enrique will go head-to-head in Budapest, following a season where Spanish tacticians like Xabi Alonso and Unai Emery have also earned massive plaudits across Europe.
Okpara notes that while La Liga clubs are enduring a transitional phase, their coaching school remains the most sought-after in world football because of their tactical sophistication.
“La Liga is currently being overshadowed by the English Premier League, which in my opinion is often overrated,” Okpara concluded. “Right now in Spain, the coaches are doing a fantastic job, even if the clubs themselves aren’t matching the heights they reached two or three years ago.”
”It does not surprise me at all to see Spanish managers operating at the absolute top level across different leagues. Look at Xabi Alonso—I think he could be the next manager headed to Chelsea. They simply have some of the best tactical minds in the world right now.”
”The issue for Spain is that England has been established at the top for a long time, and everybody wants to go where the prime action is. Top Spanish coaches are being attracted to the Premier League purely because of the financial power. They have the opportunity to build great things in their own league, but everybody goes where the money is. I strongly believe that Enrique and Mikel Arteta will give us a good tactical show in the final.”
