Achraf Hakimi’s Paris Saint-Germain form dip puts Luis Enrique’s squad management under scrutiny

Achraf Hakimi has lost some of the outstanding influence that made him one of Paris Saint-Germain’s most eye-catching players in recent seasons, according to French newspaper L’Equipe.

The Morocco international is preparing to return to Champions League action against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, but has struggled to reproduce his best form over the past eight months.

Hakimi’s decline follows two serious injuries last season, first to his ankle and then to his hamstring. Those problems kept the 27-year-old out of competition for 80 days and 22 matches.

His output has subsequently fallen sharply. Hakimi has scored once and provided five assists in 2026. Although he continues to produce the high-intensity running that has long been a defining feature of his game, his physical dominance and quality in the final pass appear to have diminished for the first time.

His performances have also been affected by a lack of consistency on the right wing. The understanding he developed with Ousmane Dembele during the 2024-25 campaign now appears to have faded, with the partnership no longer providing the same level of fluency.

Over recent months, Hakimi has had to adapt to constant changes around him in Luis Enrique’s demanding system. He has successively played alongside Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, Lee Kang-in and, most recently, Maghnes Akliouche.

Without a settled relationship with any of those players, Hakimi’s effectiveness under pressure has been reduced. That has allowed some of the technical errors in his passing, which had previously been less visible, to return.

His decision-making was particularly questioned during Paris Saint-Germain’s most recent match, a 2-1 defeat by Monaco. Despite that difficult spell, L’Equipe reports that the capital club is not panicking over the defender’s form.

The coaching staff understand that Hakimi needs a regular run of matches to rediscover his rhythm. At the same time, Luis Enrique is planning carefully timed periods of rest in the coming weeks to help the player rebuild his physical condition without risking another setback.

The approach is based on a workload-management strategy the Paris Saint-Germain manager has previously used successfully with other key members of his squad.

Hakimi is also dealing with significant pressure away from football, another factor cited in the assessment of his current performances.

At the end of June, the Versailles Court of Appeal upheld a decision to refer him to a local criminal court over allegations of rape relating to February 2023.

Hakimi has appealed that ruling to the Court of Cassation, with a decision expected in October. People close to the player say he remains completely calm while awaiting the trial, which is expected to take place in 12 to 18 months.

However, the Morocco defender is aware that he will be expected to perform at a high level throughout the season while carrying the weight of the ongoing legal case.

Taken together, his injury history, the constant changes around him on the wing, difficulty with decision-making and the pressure away from the pitch help explain why Hakimi has made a below-par start to the season. Paris Saint-Germain nevertheless believe that regular football, combined with carefully managed rest, can help him recover the form that previously made him such a decisive part of their team.