Ousmane Dembélé back in PSG squad to take on Nice in French league

By: The Associated Press Posted: 6:04 AM CDT Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024

Ousmane Dembélé is back with Paris Saint-Germain after he was left out from the squad that lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek.

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Ousmane Dembélé is back with Paris Saint-Germain after he was left out from the squad that lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/10/2024 (729 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ousmane Dembélé is back with Paris Saint-Germain after he was left out from the squad that lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek.

PSG coach Luis Enrique was criticized after the loss for not selecting Dembélé, one of the most creative players in the team following the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid.

Dembélé was selected in a group of 21 players named by Enrique traveling to Nice on Sunday night. PSG can move back to the top of the French league standings with a win.

PSG's Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes' Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Enrique had blamed Dembélé for a perceived lack of commitment from the France forward but did not give more details. He denied he had a personal argument with him after L’Equipe reported the duo verbally clashed following PSG’s 3-1 win against Rennes in the French league last weekend. Dembélé had an assist in the match.

“There is just a problem of commitment toward the team, it’s not a problem between the player and the coach,” Enrique said through a translator.

PSG traveled to London with 22 players but without Dembélé, who has been a key element in PSG’s unbeaten start to the season. In six Ligue 1 matches, Dembélé has scored four goals and added three assists.

“I took the best possible decision,” Enrique said, adding he was supported in his choice by the club director.

Enrique’s other options up front to cover Dembélé include Randal Kolo Muani and Désiré Doué.

“Other players will be able to take over,” PSG right back Achraf Hakimi said. “The most important thing in the team is the group, and our group is united.”

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer