Ousmane Dembele: Luis Enrique drops winger from Paris Saint-Germain squad for Champions League tie against Arsenal
ByOli Gent
Updated 30/09/2024 at 22:40 GMT+1
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Ousmane Dembele has been left out of Paris Saint-Germain's squad for the UEFA Champions League game against Arsenal after a reported disagreement with manager Luis Enrique. Dembele was substituted in PSG's 3-1 win over Rennes, but Enrique has declared the Frenchman "not ready to play" until he "comply or respect the expectations of the team". Watch the 2024/25 Champions League live on TNT Sports.
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Ousmane Dembele has been surprisingly left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for the French giants' UEFA Champions League visit to Arsenal.
Luis Enrique’s side travel to north London without one of their standout players, with Dembele notching four goals in his six league appearances.
However, he will not feature at all at Emirates Stadium after it was reported that the winger had had a disagreement with Enrique after being substituted during their 3-1 victory over Rennes last Friday.
Since Kylian Mbappe’s departure from the Parc des Princes during the summer, the onus has fallen on Dembele to be the senior statesman in the Ligue 1 champions' frontline.
Now, the responsibility will fall on his team-mates’ shoulders, with Enrique telling the media that Dembele was “not prepared to play”.
"If someone doesn't comply or respect the expectations of the team, it means they are not prepared to play," the Spaniard said.
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"I want all my players to be ready, so as a consequence I have left him out. I want the best for my team and that is my job.
"These circumstances are difficult, and you have to take difficult decisions, but I am 100% engaged with my decision and 100% sure of the decision I have made.
"I am very honest, and I will be honest, but I am not going to create a soap opera out of this.
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"There are no problems between us. That is completely false. This is simply about the responsibilities of the player.
"It doesn't mean this is irreversible, but I took the best decision for the team and that is why I signed here, to create a team that has a strong identity and has a lot of character."
Without Dembele, the options for Enrique in the final third are limited to Bradley Barcola, Kang-In Lee, Randal Kolo Muani, and Desire Doue.
Ibrahim Mbaye, the 16-year-old, replaced Dembele against Rennes last week.
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