Ousmane Dembele's Limited Minutes Stir Debate as PSG Readies for Manchester City Clash

Paris Saint-Germain's cautious handling of Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d'Or winner, has sparked a lively discussion among French football experts ahead of their key Champions League match against Manchester City. His restricted minutes on the pitch have left pundits divided on whether this approach will help or hinder both player and club.

Resting the Star Forward

This season, PSG has taken a very careful route with Dembele. He was completely rested in their recent 3-1 win over Le Mans, just as he had been earlier when missing the Lille game. Officially, the club says this is to preserve his energy for the important Champions League showdown with City. Still, questions linger as Dembele's performances for France, even as captain, have been underwhelming in recent games against Italy and Belgium. This casts doubt on his current form and fitness under coach Luis Enrique.

Dugarry Anticipates Conflict

On Monday, commentator Christophe Dugarry voiced serious concerns. "PSG must have information we're not privy to, but eventually, this will cause friction," he said. "His outings for PSG and France have been average, and this could get into his head. Are they worried about injuries or aiming for peak fitness come February? But how long will they keep resting him until then? This approach seems odd."

Dugarry also questioned the message sent to Dembele, saying, "What do you tell the Ballon d'Or winner, who signed a huge contract and is expected to deliver for Les Bleus, if he's only playing one out of three matches? It sends a strange signal about what it means to be the Ballon d'Or."

Di Meco Supports Luis Enrique's Strategy

In contrast, former defender Eric Di Meco defended the manager’s tactics. "If any coach has gotten the most out of him, even if it meant sitting him out or using him sparingly late in games, it's Luis Enrique," he said. "Criticizing the man who helped you win two European titles doesn't make sense."

Dembele now faces a big chance to silence doubters when PSG meets Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.

• Match: Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain
• Date: 14 Oct 2026
• Time: 22:00