An unexpected turn for Paris Saint-Germain, regarding Ousmane Dembélé, surprisingly left out of the list for the Champions League second round, precisely against Arsenal. This was indeed done right after a heated debate with coach Luis Enrique; hence, this news made everyone who had watched his excellent starting games astonished.
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According to the French media outlets RMC and L'Équipe, Dembélé and Luis Enrique had an argument after the victory over PSG against Rennes last Friday. Dembélé, one of the standout players of the team, gave the assist to Barcola's goal and had been logging good numbers up to that point: four goals and four assists in seven matches.
According to them, it was over a decision-making issue on the pitch. It is said Luis Enrique singled Dembélé out for some of his decisions during the game, which did not go down quite well with the forward. The debate slowly transformed into a heated one, and Dembélé needed to be left out of the all-important game against Arsenal.
Is Dembélé a key player for PSG?
Ousmane Dembélé immediately became the standout star at Paris Saint-Germain. He had very promising early-season form, showing solid performances with direct involvement in the goals. Four goals and four assists in seven games is a stat that every coach would want in his squad. Not to mention, Dembélé was showing signs of becoming a leader in this new era of PSG after Neymar and Messi, using his speed and breaking through the defenses.
However, Dembélé's temperament has always been in question for many in the past. At Barcelona, too, the player was criticized for his attitude. Though he has been less volatile these last couple of years, this "heated discussion" could be a sign that some behavioral changes are still pending.
The effect in the locker room
Every important decision that happens in a team like PSG has its consequences in the locker room. On one hand, Luis Enrique is trying to maintain discipline, but on the other side, cutting one of the key players of the team can have a boomerang effect. Other players, especially the ones holding some kind of leadership within the team, will definitely pay close attention to this kind of decision.
This may mean that keeping such a squad together, integrated, and cohesive becomes the biggest headache for clubs like PSG. Ego management would be paramount in this, and such scenarios are not entirely alien to the club. Just think of the tussles between Neymar and Cavani over who should take penalties. Without Dembélé now on the pitch, we may now witness the beginning of yet another war, which could imbalance the team's atmosphere if not managed properly.