Debate Over Ousmane Dembele’s Limited Playtime Ahead of PSG vs Manchester City Clash
French Media Split on Ousmane Dembele's Usage at Paris Saint-Germain
Ousmane Dembele’s reduced minutes on the field have sparked a heated debate in France as Paris Saint-Germain prepare for an important Champions League match against Manchester City. The Ballon d’Or winner has frequently been rested by coach Luis Enrique, causing pundits to question if this cautious approach will help or hinder the forward.
Resting the Star Forward
This season, PSG have taken a very careful approach with Dembele. He was completely rested in their 3-1 win over Le Mans and missed out on the squad against Lille earlier in the campaign. The club officially claims the rest is necessary before facing Manchester City in Europe. Still, Dembele’s recent performances wearing France’s captain armband have been underwhelming, prompting doubts about his form and fitness under Luis Enrique’s management.
Christophe Dugarry Foresees Conflict
"PSG must have data we don’t, but I think this will eventually lead to a clash," said Christophe Dugarry on Monday. "His games for both Paris and France have been average, and this approach might affect him mentally. Are they protecting him from injury or saving him for February? But how long do you keep resting him until then? This strategy is quite surprising."
Dugarry also questioned the message being sent to Dembele, stating, "What do you tell a player who just won the Ballon d’Or, signed a huge contract, and is expected to perform for Les Bleus? Do you really want to make it seem like it doesn’t matter? Playing him only one game out of three—what’s the point?"
Eric Di Meco Supports Luis Enrique’s Choices
On the other side, Eric Di Meco defended the coach’s handling of Dembele. "If there’s one coach who has gotten 100% or even 120% out of him, it’s Luis Enrique. Whether it was at Arsenal or now at PSG, Enrique has always managed Dembele carefully, sometimes playing him sparingly," Di Meco explained. "Criticizing the man who helped you become double European champions doesn’t make sense."
The spotlight will be on Dembele as PSG face Manchester City on Wednesday, where he aims to silence his critics.
- Event: Champions League Match
- Date: 14 Oct 2026
- Kickoff: 22:00
- Teams: Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City
