Christophe Dugarry Questions PSG’s Handling of Ousmane Dembele Ahead of Man City Clash
Paris Saint-Germain legend Christophe Dugarry has questioned Luis Enrique’s management of Ousmane Dembele after the forward was left out of several recent matches, raising concerns about his availability ahead of PSG’s upcoming UEFA Champions League clash against Manchester City.
Dembele was an unused player during PSG’s 3-1 victory over Le Mans last weekend. According to French media reports, the decision to rest him and Nuno Mendes was partly influenced by their recent international commitments with France and Portugal in the UEFA Nations League. Several other first-team regulars were also given additional time to recover.
The decision is widely believed to have been made with PSG’s trip to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, October 15, in mind. However, Dembele’s absence has attracted particular attention because Luis Enrique had also rested the forward during the team’s previous meeting with Lille.
Dugarry, a former France international, admitted that he was increasingly puzzled by the situation. Although he acknowledged that PSG’s coaching staff possess performance data unavailable to the public, he questioned whether the club’s approach to managing Dembele could eventually create tension.
“PSG certainly have data that we don’t have, but I think this situation could eventually lead to conflict. Ousmane has played some ordinary matches for both his club and his national team. After all this, is he worried about getting injured, or are they trying to keep him fit until February? How many times will he be rested during that period? The way they are managing this situation is very surprising,” Dugarry said, as reported by RMC Sport.
The former France forward believes Dembele’s status within the game makes the situation even more difficult to understand. As a Ballon d’Or winner who has recently extended his contract with PSG, the 28-year-old would naturally be expected to play a prominent role in the team’s biggest fixtures.
Instead, his limited involvement in recent matches has fuelled questions about his physical condition, his standing within Enrique’s plans and the club’s strategy for managing his workload throughout the season.
Despite the uncertainty, Dembele has contributed seven appearances across all competitions this season, recording two goals and four assists. Those numbers demonstrate that he remains capable of making a significant impact, even as his playing time continues to attract scrutiny.
With Manchester City approaching, PSG will hope their careful management of Dembele pays off when the two European heavyweights meet at the Etihad Stadium. However, Dugarry’s comments have highlighted a growing question surrounding the French forward: whether resting one of the club’s most influential players will ultimately protect his fitness or disrupt his rhythm at a crucial stage of the campaign.
