24 hours before the Champions League match against Arsenal, Luis Enrique made a strong choice by doing without the services of Ousmane Dembélé. The Spanish technician punished his star player by depriving him of this trip to London.
The disciplinary sanction is a radical decision and the Spanish coach did not fail to justify it. At a press conference this Monday evening, he made it known that the player had put himself on the sidelines of the team through his behavior.
Ousmane Dembélé did not respect the collective
“I’m going to respond, and I say that if someone does not respect the obligations to the team and is not ready… I consider this week to be important, this game to be important, and I want my players to be in the best possible arrangements. I put him aside and I want the best for my team,” he told reporters.
Then asked to detail a little more “the mistake” committed by the former Barcelona player, the Spanish technician confided:
“I have nothing to add to what I said previously. You already have something to work on, if you want. I am honest but I do not want to make this affair a soap opera.” And to those, like the media L’Equipe, who imagined a muscular exchange between the two men, the Asturian indicated: “There is no argument between the two of us, that is completely false. There is a problem with the player’s commitment to the team but not a problem between the player and the coach. »
Luis Enrique is certain of his decision
Finally, the PSG coach also confirmed that he had the support of his hierarchy. For the simple reason that he works for the good of the club. “I am 100% committed to my decisions, I am 100% sure of my decisions. My decisions are not irreversible. I signed for this club to make a team with an identity, which plays football. Was I hired to win titles and win the Champions League? Certainly not. I was hired to do the best I could. I have the support of the management, the sports director, the president. I am here to create a team and also do it with Ousmane Dembélé. »
