Paris Saint-Germain Suffer More Setbacks, Record Worst Ligue 1 Start in 12 Years_Enrique_Match_League

A familiar storyline produced an unfamiliar ending. On September 5 Beijing time, Paris Saint-Germain hosted Monaco in the third round of Ligue 1. Marquinhos opened the scoring with a header, but Monaco equalized through Nazinho and then took the lead with Ildibo's tight-angle strike, leaving PSG stunned by a 1-2 home defeat. The loss left them with only one point after three matches, marking the club's worst start in Ligue 1 in the past 12 years.

It is hard to believe that a club that has dominated Ligue 1 for so long has now found itself without a win. For Enrique, this match may have been deeply frustrating, even making him want to use a fire hose to wash away the players' lack of effort. League competition is not a game to be taken lightly, and a relaxed mentality can eventually bring punishment, as PSG are experiencing after going winless in three matches.

PSG's problems were fully exposed during the match. Although Marquinhos broke the deadlock early, the team appeared too relaxed after taking the lead, adopting a conservative style of play, and their smooth passing seemed to make them believe a 1-0 advantage was enough. However, reality proved more complicated. In the 58th minute, Teze delivered a cross from the right and Nazinho easily equalized. In the 72nd minute, Ildibo's tight-angle shot put PSG behind again, exposing a fragile defense. Dembele's assist for Ferran's goal was ruled offside, and his long-range effort near the end also missed. Over the course of the match, PSG looked like an employee still hesitating to get started, showing little fighting spirit.

Some fans joked: "As long as Paris are not more than 15 points behind, they can definitely come back." The joke was lighthearted, but everyone knows the question remains: what if they really fall 15 points behind? Other fans spoke more directly: "Paris cannot attract many die-hard supporters in China. No matter how glorious their Champions League achievements are, they only last for a few matches. What truly attracts loyal fans is the league. Ligue 1 itself has weaker competition, and Paris approach league matches loosely. What exactly are fans staying up late to watch these passionless games for?"

From a tactical perspective, PSG's problems are clearly not only about attitude. Last season, whether in their UEFA Nations League clash with Chelsea or their Champions League meeting with Bayern, the two Portuguese midfield stars struggled noticeably to control matches when the team was at a disadvantage. Their physical limitations were apparent, making them easier to target. In chaotic situations, they can lose their positions, and under pressure the defense becomes more vulnerable. Enrique's tactical ideas follow the concepts of Flick and Klopp: sacrificing some defensive stability in exchange for attacking efficiency. Although this approach can succeed in the Champions League, partly because of Enrique's understanding with his players and partly because many other major clubs were rebuilding at the time, Ligue 1 presents a different challenge, with many opponents adopting deep defensive setups that restrict PSG's attacking play.

In addition, the workload from international matches for Portugal's two stars and Fabian Ruiz has left PSG's rotation system lacking early cohesion, meaning the current difficult situation is not entirely unexpected.

Since 2012, starting a Ligue 1 season with three matches without a win has never happened before, and PSG's defeat has not only highlighted their struggles but also left their supporters frustrated. The pressure has now quietly shifted onto Enrique's shoulders.