Is Ousmane Dembélé’s relationship with Luis Enrique breaking down?

Luis Enrique was always quick to jump to the defence of Ousmane Dembélé (27) last season, always defending the former Barcelona forward, despite a relatively unfruitful campaign statistically, and often praising the less quantifiable aspects of his game, labelling him the most “destabilising” player in the world. 

However, L’Équipe understands that the pair’s relationship is currently breaking down. The publication that tensions between the pair are rising, and Dembélé’s red card against Bayern Munich in midweek did little to alleviate those tensions, quite the opposite. It is perhaps, in part, why the Frenchman was not included in the starting line-up against FC Nantes on Saturday, coming on as a substitute with 20 minutes remaining. 

Luis Enrique was particularly critical of his winger after the display in Munich and L’Équipe reports that the Paris Saint-Germain manager sees too many moments in Dembélé’s game that are not befitting of a player with his experience. In recent months, in private, Dembélé has shown an incomprehension regarding Luis Enrique’s playing style, perceiving it to be too “stereotypical and predictable”. Internally, there is a feeling at PSG that the relationship between the pair has broken down.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle