Luis Enrique defends Dembélé and rests him ahead of Le Mans clash

Ousmane Dembélé will not be on the pitch at Parc des Princes on Saturday evening (20:45) for PSG’s home match against Le Mans, matchday six of Ligue 1. Luis Enrique announced on Friday that the French winger, like Nuno Mendes, would be rested for the second time since the start of the season.

The decision comes after an international break judged disappointing by many observers. Dembélé, whose start to the season at PSG has struggled to convince, failed to dispel doubts during matches with the French national team. A verdict his manager refuses to share, however.

“For me, he was brilliant with the national team. As usual,” Luis Enrique said at a press conference. The Spaniard was lavish with his praise: “He is a different player. You can buy a ticket to come and watch him play. He always shows up and he is connected with his teammates. He was very good.”

The manager then justified the rest by clarifying that it had been decided “together” with the players concerned, as part of managing their workload over the season. He also warned that this type of rotation would become standard: “You need to get used to it, because it will be typical this season.” A method already tested during previous spells at PSG.

Dembélé’s absence on Saturday also indirectly reignites debate around his candidacy for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony scheduled for October 26. If voters were to rely solely on recent weeks, the question is worth asking. Luis Enrique, for his part, does not seem concerned.