Ousmane Dembélé expressed surprise at being left out of Paris Saint-Germain's starting lineup for Friday's clash with Monaco, according to French media reports. The French winger came off the bench in the 68th minute as PSG suffered a 2-1 defeat, dropping to thirteenth place in Ligue 1 with just two points after three matches.
L'Équipe revealed that Dembélé had anticipated a starting role following his brief respite from the squad's preparation camp. The 27-year-old forward was caught off guard by manager Luis Enrique's decision to deploy him as an impact substitute instead. However, sources indicated no friction exists between the Spanish coach and his star player, with their relationship remaining positive despite the tactical surprise.
Enrique's Workload Management Strategy
Enrique addressed the decision during a Canal+ interview, framing it as a calculated approach to managing Dembélé's physical demands. The PSG boss explained: "The circumstances are different with each player. Ousmane put in an effort in the UEFA Super Cup and the French Champions Trophy, and after that he took a bit of a rest." He emphasized that bringing Dembélé on for 20-25 minutes allowed the winger to play at a high level while gradually building his match fitness.
The tactical rotation reflects PSG's cautious approach following a turbulent season start. Enrique outlined his incremental plan: "Against Monaco he played 20 or 25 minutes at a very good level, and now we are starting to increase his playing time, and we will continue like this in the coming matches." This phased integration suggests Dembélé will feature more prominently as PSG progress through their fixture list.
With the Champions League beckoning, PSG face Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday. Dembélé is expected to reclaim his starting position for the continental competition, marking a return to his preferred role as Enrique continues balancing squad rotation with competitive demands across multiple competitions.
