A closer look at how PSG won the French title without losing a game

PARIS (AP) — Unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain has won Ligue 1 in early April with six games to spare.

Only the 2016 PSG side has won the French league earlier.

Here's a closer look at how PSG clinched a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title under coach Luis Enrique, who was criticized at the start of the campaign because of the team's ineffective style of play.

Time and again, Kylian Mbappé bailed out PSG with late equalizers or winners during his final seasons with the club. For all of Mbappé’s undoubted ability and a club-record 256 goals, his heroics masked glaring deficiencies elsewhere.

The midfield was a bit soft and the defense often panicked under pressure in big games, with those factors leaving their goalkeeper too often exposed.

After Mbappé left for Real Madrid in the offseason, Luis Enrique had work to do.

He set things straight by saying Mbappé could not be replaced as a scorer and that results had to come through far better teamwork. He preferred to have several players chipping in regularly with goals, rather than spending another fortune on a superstar scorer who might also take time to settle in.

Young players such as 22-year-old Bradley Barcola, who has 18 goals this season, and 19-year-old Désiré Doué became symbols of a new-look PSG less dependant on big names.

Under Luis Enrique there has been no pampering of egos and preferential treatment for stars like in previous years when the likes of Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were overly indulged.

Luis Enrique proved that point with a bold decision to drop forward Ousmane Dembélé on disciplinary grounds for a big Champions League game at Arsenal.

PSG lost that game 2-0 but the Spanish coach, although sometimes perceived as stubborn, made it crystal clear he was looking for dedication in his squad and he was non-negotiable on this point.

He was unhappy with Dembélé’s level of commitment at the time. So rather than shy away and meekly acquiesce to player power like some of his predecessors, Luis Enrique stood by his decision and was eventually proved right as Dembélé's form soared.

Before this season, Dembélé was widely seen as a lightning-fast and skilful right winger who got into great scoring positions but was a wasteful finisher.

His previous season-best goal tally stood at a modest 14 in 48 games overall for Barcelona during the 2018-19 campaign, and he had only once reached double figures in the league with 12 for Rennes in 2015-16.

But a decisive tactical switch by Luis Enrique paid huge dividends. He released Dembélé from his restrictive role as a winger and played him through the middle in a roaming role which also allowed him to drift to the wings.

The result has been emphatic, with Dembélé topping the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 21 goals and 32 overall.

Luis Enrique succeeded in signing flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli at the second attempt after failing last year.

Even though PSG was moving away from the galactico era, there was still something missing in attack during an inconsistent first part of the season where PSG wasted chances galore.

Kvaratskhelia joined for 70 million euros ($72 million) and has added skill, goals, and assists. Kvaratskhelia's versatility also allowed Luis Enrique to deploy him on either wing and therefore enhance his attacking options.

Perhaps most crucially of all, the Georgia forward has a tremendous work ethic and has led by example by constantly tracking back to help out defenders.

Could there be a more unselfish team player than striker Gonçalo Ramos?

Many players of his scoring ability might sulk or complain about being on the bench.

But the Portugal forward's attitude has been irreproachable.

Furthermore, he has been clinical when given his chance and has contributed 14 goals in 30 games.

Doué joined PSG from Rennes for around 50 million euros ($55 million) in the offseason, which appeared a hefty fee for an unproven young player.

But Luis Enrique, who coached Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar when Barcelona won the Champions League in 2015, saw in him a game-changing ability.

His hunch was backed up by the fact Rennes has a proven ability to develop young players, with Dembélé also coming through the Brittany club's rich youth ranks a decade ago.

Doué has proved an overwhelmingly good signing with his ability to improvise in tight situations, his skilful touches and his runs from deep.

He has also contributed 11 goals and showed remarkably good composure against Liverpool in a high-octane Champions League round-of-16 game last month.

Four PSG players have scored 10 or more goals overall this season, twice as many as last season.

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PSG's Bradley Barcola walks on the pitch during the French League One soccer match between Saint-Etienne and Paris Saint Germain at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, France, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

PSG's Goncalo Ramos kicks the ball ahead of Angers' Florent Hanin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's Desire Doue, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique, centre, celebrates winning the French League One championship title after the soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, centre, challenges for the ball with Angers' Florent Hanin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Paris Saint-Germain players throw PSG's head coach Luis Enrique in the air after they won the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

U.S. forces have boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. The announcement was made Friday by the U.S. military. The Trump administration has been targeting sanctioned tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.

The pre-dawn action was carried out by U.S. Marines and Navy, taking part in the monthslong buildup of forces in the Caribbean, according to U.S. Southern Command, which declared “there is no safe haven for criminals” as it announced the seizure of the vessel called the Olina.

Navy officials couldn’t immediately provide details about whether the Coast Guard was part of the force that took control of the vessel as has been the case in the previous seizures. A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said there was no immediate comment on the seizure.

The Olina is the fifth tanker that has been seized by U.S. forces as part of a broader effort by Trump’s administration to control the distribution of Venezuela’s oil products globally following the U.S. ouster of President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid.

The latest:

Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center, says a documentary film about first lady Melania Trump will make its premiere later this month, posting a trailer on X.

As the Trumps prepared to return to the White House last year, Amazon Prime Video announced a year ago that it had obtained exclusive licensing rights for a streaming and theatrical release directed by Brett Ratner.

Melania Trump also released a self-titled memoir in late 2024.

Some artists have canceled scheduled Kennedy Center performances after a newly installed board voted to add President Donald Trump’s to the facility, prompting Grenell to accuse the performers of making their decisions because of politics.

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum says that she has asked her foreign affairs secretary to reach out directly to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio or Trump regarding comments by the American leader that the U.S. cold begin ground attacks against drug cartels.

In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News aired Thursday night, Trump said, “We’ve knocked out 97% of the drugs coming in by water and we are going to start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico. It’s very sad to watch.”

As she has on previous occasions, Sheinbaum downplayed the remarks, saying “it is part of his way of communicating.” She said she asked her Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente to strengthen coordination with the U.S.

Sheinbaum has repeatedly rebuffed Trump’s offer to send U.S. troops after Mexican drug cartels. She emphasizes that there will be no violation of Mexico’s sovereignty, but the two governments will continue to collaborate closely.

Analysts do not see a U.S. incursion in Mexico as a real possibility, in part because Sheinbaum’s administration has been doing nearly everything Trump has asked and Mexico is a critical trade partner.

Trump says he wants to secure $100 billion to remake Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, a lofty goal going into a 2:30 meeting on Friday with executives from leading oil companies. His plan rides on oil producers being comfortable in making commitments in a country plagued by instability, inflation and uncertainty.

The president has said that the U.S. will control distribution worldwide of Venezuela’s oil and will share some of the proceeds with the country’s population from accounts that it controls.

“At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House,” Trump said Friday in a pre-dawn social media post.

Trump is banking on the idea that he can tap more of Venezuela’s petroleum reserves to keep oil prices and gasoline costs low.

At a time when many Americans are concerned about affordability, the incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices.

Trump is expected to meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday.

He hopes to secure $100 billion in investments to revive Venezuela’s oil industry. The goal rides on the executives’ comfort with investing in a country facing instability and inflation.

Since a U.S. military raid captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump has said there’s a new opportunity to use the country’s oil to keep gasoline prices low.

The full list of executives invited to the meeting has not been disclosed, but Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend.

Attorneys general in five Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration after it said it would freeze money for several public benefit programs.

The Trump administration has cited concerns about fraud in the programs designed to help low-income families and their children. California, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois and New York states filed the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The lawsuit asks the courts to order the administration to release the funds. The attorneys general have called the funding freeze an unconstitutional abuse of power.

Iran’s judiciary chief has vowed decisive punishment for protesters, signaling a coming crackdown against demonstrations.

Iranian state television reported the comments from Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei on Friday. They came after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Trump’s support for the protesters, calling Trump’s hands “stained with the blood of Iranians.”

The government has shut down the internet and is blocking international calls. State media has labeled the demonstrators as “terrorists.”

The protests began over Iran’s struggling economy and have become a significant challenge to the government. Violence has killed at least 50 people, and more than 2,270 have been detained.

Trump questions why a president’s party often loses in midterm elections and suggests voters “want, maybe a check or something”

Trump suggested voters want to check a president’s power and that’s why they often deliver wins for an opposing party in midterm elections, which he’s facing this year.

“There’s something down, deep psychologically with the voters that they want, maybe a check or something. I don’t know what it is, exactly,” he said.

He said that one would expect that after winning an election and having “a great, successful presidency, it would be an automatic win, but it’s never been a win.”

Hiring likely remained subdued last month as many companies have sought to avoid expanding their workforces, though the job gains may be enough to bring down the unemployment rate.

December’s jobs report, to be released Friday, is likely to show that employers added a modest 55,000 jobs, economists forecast. That figure would be below November’s 64,000 but an improvement after the economy lost jobs in October. The unemployment rate is expected to slip to 4.5%, according to data provider FactSet, from a four-year high of 4.6% in November.

The figures will be closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington because they will be the first clean readings on the labor market in three months. The government didn’t issue a report in October because of the six-week government shutdown, and November’s data was distorted by the closure, which lasted until Nov. 12.

FILE - President Donald Trump dances as he walks off stage after speaking to House Republican lawmakers during their annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)