Ousmane Dembele granted break by Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique and the club's athletic department have decided to grant forward Ousmane Dembele a one-week break to recover physically and mentally. The decision follows a strenuous summer for the French international, who joined the club's pre-season late after participating in the World Cup. Dembele underperformed in his recent appearances, including the UEFA Super Cup match against Aston Villa, the French Super Cup against Lens, and the Ligue 1 opener against Rennes, where he was substituted at halftime.
As a result of this managed rest, Dembele will miss the upcoming second round Ligue 1 fixture against Lille. The club aims to ensure he returns to peak condition for the remainder of the season. The forward is scheduled to resume group training sessions with the squad on Monday, August 31, 2026. This tactical decision by Luis Enrique reflects a cautious approach to integrating players with heavy summer workloads into the team's ongoing domestic campaign.