Ousmane Dembele has been excluded from the Paris Saint-Germain squad for their Champions League match against Arsenal, as the player did not meet the team’s requirements, according to manager Luis Enrique.
Reports from French media indicated that following PSG’s 3-1 victory over Rennes on Friday, Enrique and Dembele had a discussion that led to Dembele’s omission from the squad for Tuesday’s match due to disciplinary reasons.
Enrique stated there was no argument between him and Dembele but emphasized that the choice was made for the benefit of the team. “If someone doesn’t comply with the requirements of the team, it means that they are not ready,” Enrique explained during a press conference. “In such an important week with a crucial game approaching, we need every player to be fully available. My objective is to do the best for the team, and that was my decision.”
He faced questions regarding the decision to leave out a player who has scored four league goals in six matches for such an important European fixture. Enrique remarked, “Creating a team isn’t as simple as pressing a button; it requires navigating difficult circumstances. Yesterday, I had to make a tough choice, but I believe it’s undoubtedly the best decision. I would make it 100 more times.”
While he did not elaborate on the specifics of the situation regarding Dembele, Enrique insisted that his responsibility is to build a team. “I’m not going to turn this into a drama; there was no argument between the player and me. The issue was about player responsibility to the team. I joined PSG to build a team, and I will continue to do so,” he affirmed.
PSG secured a 1-0 victory in their opening Champions League match against Girona, while Arsenal played to a 0-0 draw away to Atalanta.