Paris Saint-Germain dropped significant news on Monday before their clash against Arsenal on Tuesday at Emirates Stadium. The capital club left Ousmane Dembélé out of their squad as the group headed to North London.
RMC Sport first reported that Dembélé’s absence from the squad is due to disciplinary reasons following a heated exchange with manager Luis Enrique after the Rennes match.
🚨🇫🇷| BREAKING: Ousmane Dembélé is left OUT of the squad for the game vs Arsenal as Luis Enrique made the decision not to call him up. @FabriceHawkins @ArthurPerrot
Ousmane Dembélé absence from the squad is linked to disciplinary issues after a heated discussion with Luis… pic.twitter.com/JVuRB5DXmK
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) September 30, 2024
It’s a blow to the Parisians’ attack, considering the form the 27-year-old has been in so far this season. Dembélé has recorded four goals and four assists for PSG in seven matches across all competitions, so it’s a production that the team will miss.
Nonetheless, Enrique spoke to the media on Monday and noted that he’d make the decision again and again.
“If someone does not respect or comply with the obligations and requirements of the team it means they’re not ready,” Enrique said. “In such an important week with such an important game coming up, I want my players to be in the best possible condition. Therefore, I have put him aside. My objective is to do the best for my team.”
“You think it’s easy to make a team? No. Making a team takes certain circumstances that can be difficult. Yesterday, I had to make a difficult decision in leaving Dembélé out of the squad, but I think it’s the best decision without any doubt. I would make it 100 times more. That doesn’t mean the situation is irreversible.”
“But the best situation for the right now is this, in my opinion. I signed for PSG last season to make a team. That is something I can guarantee. Until the last day that I’m in Paris, I’m going to make a team. A team that is brave, daring, and plays good football. We will go out there to try to win every game like we will do tomorrow. I can guarantee all of that. Until my last day in PSG I will do it. The day I cannot do it, I will go back home.”
“And of course, I was backed by the board, the sporting director, the president, and the club in excluding Dembélé from the squad because they brought me to build a team and that’s what I’m going to do, create a team. And of course, also with Ousmane Dembele. Dembélé is in my team if anyone has any doubt.”
🗣️ Luis Enrique on a very serious tone explaining why he left Ousmane Dembélé out of the squad against Arsenal:
“If someone does not respect or comply with the obligations and requirements of the team it means they’re not ready. In such an important week with such an important… pic.twitter.com/kTNU9ZjpTo
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) September 30, 2024
Seeing how Enrique lines up his starting XI without the Frenchman will be interesting. Moreover, it will take a group effort to ensure that PSG leave the Emirate Stadium with a positive result.
