Luis Enrique made a strategic decision by leaving Ousmane Dembele out of Paris Saint-Germain's squad for their crucial UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal on Tuesday. This bold move did not pay off, as PSG suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite Dembele being fit and in excellent form, Enrique benching the prolific French forward was based on a perceived lack of commitment. Dembele had already contributed significantly this season with four goals and three assists in Ligue 1 matches.
To compensate for Dembele's absence, Enrique introduced Desire Doue and Lee Kang-in alongside Bradley Barcola in the attacking lineup. However, facing Arsenal's strong defense proved challenging, and PSG's offense struggled to make an impact. Arsenal's Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka capitalized with goals in the first half, showcasing their team's maturity and coordination.
The PSG fans remained optimistic, but the team's performance on the field did not match their enthusiasm. Enrique made his first substitutions in the 64th minute, bringing on Randal Kolo Muani and Fabian Ruiz in an attempt to turn the game around. While PSG showed some improvement, it was insufficient to overturn the deficit.
After the match, Enrique took responsibility for the loss, highlighting issues with anticipation between PSG's forwards and Arsenal's defenders.
This defeat marks PSG's first loss in the Champions League this season, following an unbeaten start with a win against Girona. The decision to exclude one of their star players in such a pivotal game has sparked discussions about team strategy and commitment criteria.
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Enrique's gamble to leave out Dembele backfires badly against Arsenal
cgtn.com