PSG’s Struggles Recall Ancelotti Era Amid Poor Start to Ligue 1 Season

PSG’s rocky start to the season echoes the past

Paris, September 2026 – The beginning of the Ligue 1 season for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is reminiscent of years gone by, bringing back discussions about former coach Carlo Ancelotti.

A challenging start under Luis Enrique

PSG’s performance has been underwhelming, with no victories in their first three matches, resulting in two draws and a loss against AS Monaco. This leaves them with just two points, marking the worst start since Qatar took over the club in 2011. Despite this, Spanish coach Luis Enrique remains unfazed by the mediocre results, given his status as a reigning champion of Europe in 2025 and 2026.

Historical parallels with Carlo Ancelotti

Reflecting on past seasons, Carlo Ancelotti, now Brazil’s national coach, faced a similar scenario nearly 15 years ago. Under his guidance in the 2012-2013 season, PSG also failed to secure a win in their opening matches, drawing against Lorient (2-2), Ajaccio (0-0), and Bordeaux (0-0). The team eventually clinched the championship in 2013, and Ancelotti moved to Real Madrid, where he led them to their 10th Champions League title.

Luis Enrique mirrors Paul Le Guen’s era

Before the Qatari investment, the last time PSG earned just two points from their first three matches was in 2007 under Paul Le Guen. That season began with a draw against Sochaux (0-0), followed by another at Lens, and a home defeat to Lorient (1-3) on August 15.

According to Opta statistics, the current PSG team has conceded more than one goal in each of their last four Ligue 1 matches, a streak not seen since January-February 2005.