There was no doubt about it French club PSG meant business in the transfer market this summer. Not only did the club from the French capital pay a world-record fee for Brazilian star Neymar, they also captured one of the most exciting young attacking players in world football in Kylian Mbappe.
The talented striking duo joined highly rated Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani in Paris. On paper, it is a terrifying trio for opposition defenders to deal with.
It turns out they are not too bad on grass neither, as Celtic found out on Tuesday night in the Champions League, as the Hoops were hammered 5-0 at Celtic Park.
Do they have a nickname yet?
In the tradition of the MSN at Barcelona and the BBC at Real Madrid, I thought the trio should be given a nickname like the CNM, very close to a certain American television network maybe, not. Who knows it might stick! They may already have a nickname, so if they have I apologise for my ignorance!
Anyway, back to their on the field performances. The trio have already struck up a very good understanding and are scoring goals for fun at the moment. Some cynics will suggest that the opposition the trio have faced so far this season have been poor.
However, I do believe there is a confidence without all three players that they can score goals against the better opposition in European football.
Compared to the old MSN
The inevitable comparisons will be made with Barcelona’s strike-force with Neymar having now left the MSN to join PSG. I suppose the Blaugrana now have the MSD with the signing of highly rated star Ousmane Dembele. It seems doubtful that will catch on!
I have already seen comparisons by certain websites of PSG’s trio and Barcelona’s new and old strike-forces. No doubt, it is hard to compare PSG’s fledgeling trio with Neymar’s former strike-partners, simply because Lionel Messi is one of the world’s best ever players.
None of Cavani, Mbappe or even Neymar could make that claim or come close to the accolades that the Argentinian has picked up. Meanwhile Luis Suarez has also been one of the most prolific strikers in European football of late too.
Mbappe and Neymar both still have time to pick up both club and individual awards, as Messi is more experienced and older. Both players seem destined for big things in Paris. That is the main reason both made the move to the big-spending French club.
It would be unfair to compare the PSG stars to a trio considered by some to be the best ever attacking unit in European football.
Trio make PSG genuine Champions League contenders
For years PSG have threatened to become a real force in the Champions League. The owner’s long-term aim was domestic and European dominance. However, on a number of occasions, the players have failed to live up to expectations. Or they have simply bottled it on the big stage.
The twin signings of Mbappe and Neymar were a statement of intent from the French club. The statement was that they are genuine contenders to win the Champions League. There will be harder challenges ahead than facing Celtic.
However, Unai Emery’s team are second favourites to win the competition at odds of 5/1, with only reigning European champions Real Madrid shorter odds.
Expectations have risen in the French capital since their summer spending. Who knows PSG’s talented front three may just help them to their first ever European Cup triumph. However, they will still have work to do to be up there with the MSN.
Can PSG’s new arrivals fire the French side to the Champions League trophy?
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