Dembélé Backs Luis Enrique Before PSG Faces Manchester City

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has defended coach Luis Enrique's decision to rest him ahead of the team's Champions League meeting with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner said workload management was necessary during a season that could involve 70 or 80 matches.

Dembélé missed PSG's weekend match against Le Mans after discussing his schedule with Luis Enrique following international duty with France. According to Foot Mercato, the 29-year-old has played seven matches for PSG this season, recording two goals and four assists, with most of those contributions coming against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.

The French forward said he trusted his coach to determine when players needed recovery time, despite his personal desire to feature regularly. He also noted that PSG had played more than 50 or 60 matches in each of the previous two seasons when competing through the final stages of tournaments.

"I spoke with the coach, who told me I would have a few days off. I spent time with my family and friends. It was very calm and peaceful. There is nothing to say about that," Dembélé said.

He explained that the decision followed a conversation after his international appearances and emphasized that the coaching staff monitors the workload of the entire squad.

"When I need rest, he lets me know. Obviously, I am competitive, I love football, and I want to play every match, but when you play 70 or 80 games in a season, you cannot play them all. He knows how to manage that," Dembélé said.

Despite his limited involvement in recent matches, Dembélé expressed satisfaction with his performances and the team's progress. PSG had struggled to win its opening Ligue 1 matches but subsequently recorded three consecutive league victories, according to his remarks at the press conference.

"I am happy with my start to the season. We are still in October. We are taking the matches calmly, and I am confident about what will happen in the future," he said.

Dembélé also praised teammate Désiré Doué, highlighting the young forward's technical ability, scoring potential and performances on major occasions. Doué scored in the 2025 Champions League final and has established himself as an important member of the squad.

"He is one of the most talented players in the world. We know his ability to dribble, score goals and provide assists. He is very important to us," Dembélé said.

Turning to Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, a former PSG teammate, Dembélé described their relationship as close and praised the Italian international's ability to influence matches through decisive saves. Donnarumma won the European Championship with Italy and was named player of the tournament.

"For me, he is number one. He is an incredible goalkeeper, exceptional," Dembélé said.

The upcoming match represents a significant early-season test for PSG against a Manchester City side that Dembélé described as talented and well coached. The English club has also faced scrutiny over alleged financial fair-play violations in the Premier League.

"It is a big match against a very good team, with very good players and a very good coach. It will not be easy, but we will prepare well to take the three points," he said.

Dembélé cautioned against treating the encounter as decisive in the competition, stressing that the season remained in its early stages. PSG's immediate objective is to finish among the Champions League's top eight teams in the league phase, although he noted that the club had previously progressed through the playoffs.

"We are not going to send a message to Europe. It is October, and the season is still long," Dembélé said.

He added that PSG remained focused on maintaining its progress after a 6-1 Champions League victory over Slovan Bratislava and acknowledged that difficult fixtures awaited in the coming weeks.

"The team is very calm and relaxed. When the important moments arrive, we will have to show all our quality," he said.