Dembélé dismisses playing time controversy ahead of Manchester City-PSG

Ousmane Dembélé moved to close the debate before it could escalate. On the eve of PSG’s trip to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner spoke at a press conference to address questions about his management by Luis Enrique.

The Paris striker has been rested twice since the start of the season, including in the last Ligue 1 matchday against Le Mans (3-1). A decision that, according to him, followed direct discussion with his coach. “I spoke with the coach, especially after the France match against Belgium. And obviously, he agreed that I wouldn’t play on Saturday,” he explained.

Dembélé then dismissed any suggestion of friction. “It’s not really an issue. When I need rest, he lets me know. I’m competitive, I love football, I want to play every match, but over 70 or 80 matches in a season, you can’t play them all.” A measured tone, delivered with a smile, that contrasts with the image of a player prone to bristling at his coach’s decisions.

The former Barcelona player concluded by fully endorsing Luis Enrique’s approach. “He manages the workload well, whether for me or all the players in the squad. You have to trust him. That’s all.”

Dembélé is expected to start Wednesday evening at the Etihad Stadium. The historical context of the venue is not insignificant for Paris: PSG suffered a defeat there on November 24, 2021, a match that had also raised questions about the striker’s management. Since then, the relationship between the two men has clearly evolved. PSG, meanwhile, won 4-2 in the last meeting between the two clubs.