Ousmane Dembele joked that he might ask Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique for another holiday after scoring and providing an assist in his side’s 4-2 Champions League victory over Manchester City on Wednesday.
The Ballon d’Or winner returned to action with an impressive performance at the Etihad Stadium, having been rested for PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Le Mans on Saturday following the international break.
“After the international break I went on holiday. Actually, I might ask for more holidays,” Dembele told the official broadcaster.
“I really enjoy playing on Tuesday and Wednesday, especially when I come back from holiday. It’s a real pleasure.”
When asked whether he would take another break, the French forward smiled and replied: “It’s possible, until March I think. It’s the coach who decides.”
PSG faces Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Saturday before hosting Lamine Yamal’s Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Luis Enrique potentially set to rotate his squad again.
The Spanish coach has regularly managed his players’ workloads, leaving out Nuno Mendes against Le Mans and previously resting Dembele for a league fixture against Lille.
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Dembele’s playing time has been a subject of debate. He was named Ligue 1’s best player last season despite starting just nine matches during PSG’s title-winning campaign, prompting criticism over his selection ahead of players who featured more regularly.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca pointed to PSG’s ability to rest key players against less demanding domestic opponents, something he believes is more difficult for Premier League clubs.
“They can manage players when they play games before the Champions League,” Maresca said. “For us, it’s a bit different, especially when you go (to) Anfield.”
City faced Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, leaving Maresca’s side with one fewer day of preparation before the European encounter.
PSG’s scheduling flexibility also attracted scrutiny last season when Ligue 1 agreed to postpone its match against Lens to give the club more time to prepare for a Champions League quarterfinal against Liverpool.
The French side subsequently secured its second consecutive Champions League title, defeating Arsenal on penalties in the final.
Despite PSG’s success in Europe, its domestic form has been less convincing this season. The defending champion sits sixth in Ligue 1 after six rounds, while Dembele has yet to score in four league appearances. He has, however, scored three times in the Champions League.
The forward dismissed concerns over the team’s early-season performances, insisting that PSG remained focused on improving as the campaign progressed.
“We couldn’t care less that people doubted us. We’re in October, it’s only the second game of the Champions League,” he said.
“We just need to stay on track during the first half of the season and prepare for the second.”
Dembele also admitted that PSG had allowed City back into the contest after dominating the opening half.
“We eased up a bit in the second half,” he said. “When you do that against players like that, you pay for it.”
( With inputs from AP).
Published on Oct 15, 2026