Ousmane Dembélé’s injury against Barcelona has revived debate over how Paris Saint-Germain manage his physical condition, after the French forward departed the match early despite the rest program he has undergone since the start of the season.
According to Foot Mercato, citing L’Équipe, the player views regular participation as the path to regaining his rhythm, while the coaching staff prioritizes preparing him physically for major fixtures.
Dembélé felt pain in his left hamstring following a sprint in the first half and was forced to leave the pitch before the 20th minute, with Ferran Torres replacing him in a match that ended in a 4-2 victory for Paris.
An official statement indicated an injury to the hamstrings of his left thigh, with the French club revealing that the player will be sidelined for several weeks, without specifying a definitive return date.
The Frenchman had been granted two rest periods since the start of the season—one following the Rennes match in August and another after the recent international break, which he used to take a short trip to the United States.
Dembélé had previously joked about the matter, saying: “Maybe I’ll ask for more holidays if possible,” to which Luis Enrique replied: “Of course, it’s a joke,” after the subject became a matter of banter between the coach and his star.
Behind this lighthearted atmosphere, L’Équipe reported that the player occasionally feels the need to play consecutive matches to build his match fitness, whereas the coaching staff believes it is better for him to arrive fresh and capable of delivering high-intensity effort for 60 or 70 minutes.
His recent return had carried encouraging signs, as he scored and provided an assist against Strasbourg in just 27 minutes, while his European tally this season stood at three goals and three assists before injury halted his run of appearances.
This controversy arises months before Dembélé turns 30 next May, while medical test results will determine his recovery timeline, with no official medical evidence directly linking the injury to his rest periods or his recent trip.
