Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé fired back at his critics with heavy irony after a 4-2 victory against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, joking that coach Luis Enrique might grant him extended vacation time until March.
Answering Pundits With Irony
Dembélé scored one of the goals in the European fixture and addressed commentators and pundits on French broadcaster Canal+ after the final whistle. O GLOBO reported that the forward dismissed the scrutiny over his recent performances and suggested he plans to keep making the most of his scheduled rest periods.
When asked if he wanted to answer his critics on the pitch, Dembélé laughed off the question.
“There was a break for the national team games, and then I went on vacation. Actually, maybe I’ll ask for more vacation,” he said.
A Decade of Public Scrutiny
The French international noted that questioning has followed him throughout his career, pointing out that public scrutiny is nothing new.
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He spoke with former player Samir Nasri, who congratulated him on his performance against Manchester City and advised him to ignore the noise. Dembélé offered a direct assessment of media pressure in response.
“I’ve been criticized for ten years. That’s not going to change, is it?” Dembélé said.
The Rhythm of Mid-Week European Fixtures
The conversation maintained its lighthearted tone as Dembélé discussed the rhythm of competing in mid-week European matches. He remarked that playing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays feels notably easier immediately after returning from a break.
“It was a good game. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I really enjoy playing, especially when I come back from vacation,” Dembélé said.
Workload Management Under Luis Enrique
The remarks follow Paris Saint-Germain’s recent roster management under Luis Enrique. The Spanish coach opted to rest Dembélé during a 3-1 victory against Le Mans in the Coupe de France on Saturday, a decision that followed the international break and sparked discussion regarding the forward’s workload management.
When an interviewer asked if he might sit out additional matches for recovery, Dembélé escalated the joke by suggesting an extended absence.
“It’s possible, maybe even by March, I think. We’ll see after that. The coach decides,” he said with a laugh.
Paris Saint-Germain sits among the contending clubs in the current UEFA Champions League campaign as the tournament progresses toward its knockout stages.
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