New details have emerged about the decision that led PSG to rest Ousmane Dembele until next Monday, including clarifications on the substance of his exchange with Luis Enrique after Rennes vs. PSG (2-2).
The information had not leaked before PSG's announcement Tuesday evening. Struggling since the start of the season, Ousmane Dembele will benefit from a few extra days of rest and will return to training next Monday, thus missing the Lille-PSG match this Friday night. A decision made "in agreement with the coach and the sporting management," according to PSG.
Is the Ballon d'Or winner being punished by his coach after his poor half at Rennes? Did the two argue after the match? Tuesday evening, insider Djamel gave his version of events and explained that Luis Enrique found his player physically short, while Dembele was disappointed to play only 45 minutes against Aston Villa after cutting short his vacation to be ready for the European Super Cup.
But according to this source, there was no tension between the two men, and the decision to rest Dembele until next Monday was proposed by the Spaniard and accepted "with pleasure" by the player. L'Equipe completed a version of the facts this Wednesday afternoon, with a few new details.
The French outlet goes into more detail about how events unfolded and explains that Luis Enrique lashed out at all his players at halftime of Rennes-PSG, including Dembele, reproaching them for their commitment. A dressing-down that did not really sit well with the Ballon d'Or winner, who wanted to clear the air with his coach right at the end of the match.
After fulfilling his media obligations, notably declaring that his players had to "step out of their comfort zone" to keep winning, the Spaniard thus had it out with Dembele, according to L'Equipe, which, citing internal sources, describes the first exchanges between the two men as "frank."
The PSG No. 10 reportedly did not understand his coach's firmness so early in the season, feeling that there was a second half to make up for it, while acknowledging that he was not at the expected level, particularly athletically. As with the media a few minutes earlier, Luis Enrique reportedly told him the demands were just as high this season and that he was concerned about it.
L'Equipe also confirms that Dembele explained to Luis Enrique that he had resumed individual training earlier than planned and that it was proof of his total commitment before this new season, hence a form of disappointment. "At first a little tense," according to L'Equipe, the exchange then became constructive, since the sports daily confirms that the decision to rest Dembele was made jointly by the staff and the player, and that everyone believes it is the best decision.
Luis Enrique and Ousmane Dembele also spoke again on Monday morning at the Campus, in the presence of Luis Campos, to definitively settle the decision PSG announced Tuesday evening. After a day of rest on Tuesday, PSG's players trained this Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Poissy, thus without Dembele, who will not return until next Monday.
In the meantime, the 2018 world champion will spend time with family, according to L'Equipe, and continue to keep fit with an individual program. Dembele's return is hoped for on Friday, Sept. 4, for the PSG-Monaco showdown on the third matchday of Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes, which will also feature a new pitch.