Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has left Ousmane Dembele out of his squad to face Arsenal on Tuesday because the player “did not comply with the expectations of the team”.
Dembele was not named in PSG’s 22-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League fixture, with the player left out for disciplinary reasons following the team’s 3-1 win over Rennes on Friday evening.
Dembele has been a key player for PSG so far this season, contributing four goals and four assists from seven games.
Asked to explain his absence, Luis Enrique said: “If someone doesn’t comply with or respect the expectations of the team it means they are not prepared to play. I consider this a very important game week and the following match tomorrow is an important match. We need all my players to be ready.
“As a consequence, I have left him out. I want the best for my team and that is my decision.”
Pressed on a further explanation on the disciplinary breach, Luis Enrique added: “I’m honest. I’m not going to create a soap opera. There’s no problem with us, between player and coach. It’s simply the player and his responsibilities as a player.”
Mikel Arteta earlier praised Luis Enrique’s “honesty” and intensity as a coach on Tuesday. The two coaches played together at Barcelona, with Arteta a youth player breaking through at Camp Nou while Luis Enrique was a senior player.
The PSG coach praised his counterpart, calling him one of the best coaches in the game, and described his Arsenal side as the “best without the ball in Europe”.
“It’s a pleasure to hear the comments made by Arteta,” Luis Enrique said. “Of course, I spent a season with him at Barcelona. He was a very young player but trained with us. I’ve got great memories.
“He’s had a great and established career. At the end of his career he had success at Arsenal and has had a great start as a coach. It will be a pleasure to have a chat with him tomorrow. He’s one of the best coaches on the market at the moment.
“He’s changed Arsenal’s fortunes, from a somewhat winless streak to one of the best teams in the world competing for titles. He’s a great coach and a great person.”
PSG recorded a 1-0 win over Girona in their first Champions League fixture. They currently lead Ligue 1 on goal difference ahead of AS Monaco.
(FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
