"I prefer to have four players who score 12 goals each rather than one who scores 40. That's more goals." When Kylian Mbappé left PSG last summer, coach Luis Enrique took the news philosophically.

Six months later, history seems to have proven the Spaniard right. After a hesitant start in the Champions League, with a lack of offensive efficiency, Paris has chained together three convincing victories, with more than three goals scored each time. Their last outing, against Brest in the first leg of the play-off, ended with a score of 3-0, almost guaranteeing them a place in the round of 16 against Liverpool or Barcelona.

At the same time, Paris' domination of Ligue 1 remains intact. A few days before the match against Brest, the Parisians easily disposed of Monaco (4-1). Their runner-up in the French championship, OM, is already relegated to 10 points and had been humiliated by Paris at the Vélodrome (3-0). In France, there is simply PSG and the others. Suffice to say that they seem well on their way to winning their 11th Ligue 1 title since the takeover by QSI.

But the only goal that matters to Paris is the Champions League. And in a team accustomed to disappointments like the 2017 comeback, the supporters must never get carried away.

The Parisians' only notable European victory - a thrilling 4-2 comeback after trailing Manchester City - came against a team in the latter stages of their cycle that has become the scapegoat of European and English clubs this season.

For the play-offs, PSG had the right to a nice draw. A Franco-French duel against Brest, one of the sensations of the Champions League but who have not beaten Paris since 1985. Before the first leg, the Parisians were on an impressive run of 30 games without defeat against the Finistériens over a period of 40 years. In January, Paris had devoured them 5 to 2 in Ligue 1.

Ousmane Dembélé in the form of his life

Facing these two opponents, the executioner had a name and a smiling face: Ousmane Dembélé. At 27, the native of Vernon is in the form of his life and silences his detractors.

Long mocked for his supposedly square feet, the striker has transformed himself into a scoring machine, totaling 18 goals in his last 11 games. He even scored two hat-tricks in four days: against Stuttgart on January 29 and then Brest on February 1.

After six disappointing seasons at Barcelona – where he was bought for a whopping €135 million before being sold to PSG for less than half that – Dembélé is finally thriving in Paris under Luis Enrique. Previously confined to the wing, he has enjoyed greater offensive freedom this season thanks to Mbappé's departure. He is given more latitude to drop into the centre and it pays off in the final move.

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"I can play anywhere: number 10, winger, false nine. It's this freedom that allows me to express myself fully," Dembélé recently told Spanish sports daily Marca.

"You should ask him what he ate for Christmas," joked Luis Enrique after the match against Brest, praising the striker's mental strength. "For those who know Ousmane and see him training, we see that he is full of confidence."

"He was already good last season and in 2025 he is even better. It is a pleasure when you have so many players with full confidence," said his coach.

Less glitter, just as many goals

After 18 months in his position and two transfer windows carried out according to his wishes, the Spanish coach now has a squad that he can use, capable of following his game plan, based on possession, quick movements and stifling pressing.

The names of the players may be less flashy than in the past, but PSG still continue to spend more than their rivals. This winter, the capital club attracted Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for 70 million euros from Napoli. And the latter is already giving full satisfaction.

Luis Enrique wanted four twelve-goal strikers? He already has two. Besides Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola has already found the back of the net 15 times this season. Gonçalo is only at 8 goals but he is a valuable "super-sub" in Luis Enrique's plans.

Behind the attackers, the names of midfielders Lee Kang-In and Désiré Doué are less appealing than those of Marco Verratti or Adrien Rabiot. But the war of egos that has long undermined the club seems to have calmed down.

Until now, playing PSG meant focusing on neutralizing Mbappé. Now, the threat comes from everywhere. Which complicates the task of the other teams, analyzes L'Équipe.

"If they are less skillful or even less gifted than their illustrious predecessors, and there is a fair bit of loss, this offensive panorama draws a plural and varied threat, which makes the attack more difficult to identify and control," writes the French newspaper.

Brest's coach shares his analysis: "As a team, I think they are much stronger than last season," explains Eric Roy, who even makes Paris one of the favourites to lift the Champions League trophy this year.