Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is refusing to abandon his unconventional penalty-kick strategy despite a mounting conversion crisis. The Parisian club has missed five of their 10 penalty attempts across all competitions this season. The tactical stubbornness remains a central storyline as the club navigates their current Ligue 1 campaign, casting a shadow over anticipated high-stakes fixtures against rivals like Nice.
The latest failure occurred on March 1. Désiré Doué stepped up to the spot during a tight league match against Le Havre. Goalkeeper Mory Diaw saved the attempt. Paris Saint-Germain secured a narrow 1-0 victory, but the wasted opportunity amplified scrutiny on the managerial policy.
PSG : Luis Enrique justifie le choix du tireur de penaltyhttps://t.co/eUBhhcJtcM
— Foot Mercato (@footmercato) March 22, 2026
The root of the current system traces back to August 2024. Kylian Mbappé departed the club, leaving a massive void at the penalty spot. Mbappé converted 10 of his 13 attempts in his final season in Paris. Enrique opted against appointing a permanent successor. He instead instituted a rotational system to foster collective responsibility within the squad.
The manager selects the designated penalty taker from a pre-established list. He reveals this choice to the players just hours before kickoff. The approach initially saw success. Vitinha emerged early on with an unblemished record. Players like Randal Kolo Muani, Bradley Barcola, and Gonçalo Ramos also took turns from the spot.
The reliability quickly deteriorated. High-profile misses began stacking up in crucial matches. Ousmane Dembélé failed to convert against Newcastle. Vitinha later missed an attempt against Monaco. Enrique expressed intense frustration over the squandered scoring opportunities but held firm on his rotational philosophy.
Reports from late February indicate Enrique expanded his list of potential takers by adding four new players in an attempt to solve the crisis. The March 1 miss by Doué suggests the expanded roster has not immediately cured the execution issues. The tactical gamble remains a glaring vulnerability for a team commanding the heights of French football.