Dembélé scores and assists as Paris thrash Manchester City: "Maybe I'll ask for another break"

Ousmane Dembélé was one of the stars of Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-2 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday in the Ligue des Champions. One goal, one decisive assist, and a brilliant attacking display at the Etihad Stadium — then the Paris forward extended his evening with a post-match interview that caught attention.

When asked about the criticism directed at him during the international break, Dembélé chose to joke rather than defend himself. When asked to comment on whether he wanted to put things right, he laughed and replied: “Not at all, there was an international break and after that I went on holiday.” He then added mischievously: “By the way, maybe I’ll ask for another break…”

On the substance, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner directly dispelled doubts surrounding Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the season: “We don’t care at all if people doubt us.” He then put the matter in context: “We’re in October, this is our second Ligue des Champions match and we’re staying focused. We know that in the first part of the season, we need to be on the right track and then prepare for the second part of the season.”

The forward also reaffirmed his special love for big European nights: “On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I really enjoy playing… especially when I come back from holiday!” When asked about the possibility of resting in the domestic league at the weekend, he didn’t hesitate: “It’s possible, maybe even until March!”

The interview ended with a small revealing slip: when discussing Paris Saint-Germain’s next opponent, Dembélé mentioned Le Havre — but the Parisians will travel to Strasbourg on Saturday. An error he accepted with the same composure that has defined his personality since his professional debut. “They’ve been criticizing me for 10 years so nothing will change,” he concluded.