Achraf Hakimi is facing questions over his form at Paris Saint-Germain after a difficult start to the season, with concerns growing over the Morocco international’s reduced impact on the right flank.
The PSG defender has been a key attacking outlet for the French champions, but his usual influence appears to have diminished amid a demanding run of fixtures and mounting physical and mental fatigue.
Hakimi’s workload has been particularly intense, with his schedule spanning domestic football in France, the Africa Cup of Nations, the Champions League and 2026 World Cup matches.
That sequence of competitions has raised concerns about whether the 26-year-old needs a period of recovery before he can return to his best.
Hakimi’s numbers highlight the decline
The clearest warning sign comes from Hakimi’s goal-scoring figures.
The Moroccan is currently scoring once every 2,000 minutes, a significant drop from previous seasons when he had been averaging a goal every 300 to 400 minutes.
His reduced attacking output is not the only concern.
Hakimi has also seen a decline in the dribbling and penetration attempts that have traditionally been an important part of his game. His ability to drive forward from the right and create danger has been one of his defining characteristics, making the apparent drop in effectiveness particularly noticeable.
The figures have therefore prompted questions about whether the defender is suffering from the consequences of an exceptionally heavy workload.
Enrique has already shown one possible solution
PSG manager Luis Enrique may have an example from his own squad that could provide a possible answer to Hakimi’s current situation.
The Spanish coach recently used a recovery strategy with Ousmane Dembele after recognising that the forward was experiencing physical and mental exhaustion.
At the end of August, Enrique gave Dembele an entire week away from competitive demands in an attempt to allow him to recover his energy.
The decision produced the desired response.
Dembele returned to action with impressive performances, including a standout display in the Champions League against Slovan Bratislava.
He scored twice in that match and also supplied an important assist, suggesting that the break had helped him regain both his physical freshness and attacking sharpness.
Could Hakimi receive the same treatment?
Dembele’s recovery has naturally raised the possibility that Enrique could consider a similar approach for Hakimi.
The Moroccan, who is also captain of his national team, could potentially benefit from a short period away from the demands of regular competition.
A mandatory rest period would give Hakimi an opportunity to recover from the accumulated fatigue that may be affecting his performances before returning to PSG duty.
There is no indication in the article that Enrique has made such a decision, but Dembele’s successful recovery has provided an obvious reference point for the coach.
For PSG, the priority would be to ensure that one of their most important players can regain his usual level without being pushed beyond his physical limits.
Demanding schedule raises wider concerns
Hakimi’s situation also highlights the wider physical demands placed on players competing at the highest level.
Major clubs increasingly face congested schedules involving domestic competitions, continental football and international commitments.
For players such as Hakimi, that can mean moving from one demanding competition to another with limited time to recover.
The concern is not simply about a temporary reduction in performance. Continued physical strain without sufficient recovery could increase the risk of muscle problems and longer-term injuries.
For a club competing on several fronts, losing a key player during the decisive stages of a campaign could have serious consequences.
PSG must weigh rest against competition
Enrique therefore faces a delicate decision over how best to manage Hakimi.
The right-back’s recent decline has become noticeable enough to generate questions about the reasons behind it, while his workload provides a possible explanation.
Dembele’s experience offers PSG an example of how a carefully timed break can potentially restore a player’s energy and effectiveness.
Whether Enrique chooses to apply the same method to Hakimi remains to be seen. But with the Moroccan’s attacking influence falling well below his previous levels, managing his workload could become an important part of PSG’s plans.
For now, Hakimi’s challenge is to recover the form that has made him such a threat from the right while PSG look for the balance between maintaining their competitiveness and protecting their players from the consequences of relentless football.
