Luis Enrique has publicly defended his choice to exclude Ousmane Dembele from the squad for the upcoming match against Lille in Ligue 1. The manager emphasized that the decision is aimed at keeping Dembele fresh for future fixtures.

As PSG prepares to face Lille tomorrow night, Dembele will be notably absent, having been granted a week off training. Luis Enrique stated that this break is beneficial for the star player, allowing him to recuperate physically and mentally after a demanding summer.

Dembele's absence follows his early substitution during last weekend’s draw against Rennes, where Enrique noted that the French forward was still showing signs of fatigue from his efforts at the World Cup. In his press conference, he clarified:

“I am a big admirer of Ousmane Dembélé, I repeat that. He’s an essential player for us. He made a huge effort this summer to be ready and present for the UEFA SuperCup final during his vacation.”

Enrique reassured fans that this decision was not punitive but rather a strategic move to ensure Dembele's long-term performance. He stated:

“We made a good decision this week. There’s nothing important. Every time we make these decisions, there’s noise around PSG, but there’s nothing to it.”

In other news, Bradley Barcola is set to move to Liverpool for a fee that could rise to €140m, confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.