Ousmane Dembélé returns to Paris with questions around his France displays, but Luis Enrique has no interest in adding to them. On the eve of Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 meeting with Le Mans, the PSG coach offered an emphatic defence of his forward and confirmed that a short rest period has been planned.
Luis Enrique backs Dembélé after France duty
- Dembélé began centrally for France against Turkey on 25 September, a role he has also occupied for PSG, before starting in the same area of the attack against Italy last Friday.
- He then moved to the right wing for Monday’s match against Belgium, wearing the captain’s armband in Kylian Mbappé’s absence.
- Despite criticism of those international performances, Luis Enrique rejected the view that Dembélé had struggled. “I disagree,” he said. “For me, he was brilliant, as usual.”
The PSG manager described Dembélé as a rare type of player, one worth watching live in a stadium. He highlighted the attacker’s willingness to demand the ball, shoot and combine with those around him.
“He always makes himself available, looks to have attempts and link up with his team-mates,” Luis Enrique said. “He was very good.”
Rest planned before domestic and European tests
Dembélé and left-back Nuno Mendes will be given time away following the international break. The France forward is due back in training on Saturday after an agreement involving the player and the club.
Luis Enrique said PSG would assess recovery requirements individually rather than applying one solution across the squad. The aim is to have both players ready for the demands ahead in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
“After such a long international break, we consider every player separately,” he explained. “We decided together that Nuno and Ousmane need rest to prepare for the league and Champions League matches.”
The Spaniard also warned that these tailored recovery periods will become routine during the season.
France coach also sees value beyond goals
France manager Zinédine Zidane had already offered his own support after the 1-1 draw with Italy. Zidane said he had been satisfied with Dembélé’s work in the two matches he started.
He pointed to the forward’s movement and his tendency to drift away from fixed positions as useful qualities for the national side, arguing that the evaluation should not be limited to goals.
“Ousmane is being Ousmane,” Zidane said. “He moves constantly and often leaves his position, which is what interests us. People look at goals, but I see it differently. I do not have much to criticise.”
Strong early figures at PSG
| Competition record this season | Ousmane Dembélé |
|---|---|
| Matches played in all competitions | 7 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 4 |
PSG host Le Mans on Saturday in the sixth round of the Ligue 1 season. The French champions then travel to face Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Luis Enrique keen to protect Dembélé’s energy before another demanding week.
