Ousmane Dembélé shines with a double and an assist in PSG’s 5-0 victory over Olympique de Marseille. The French forward has drawn praise from his coach, Luis Enrique, who responded to recent criticisms from French journalists regarding Dembélé’s performance.

Is This the Real Start of Dembélé’s Season?

The question arises: has Ousmane Dembélé truly found his form since January? The statistics suggest so, as he has netted six goals and provided three assists in just nine matches this month. Yet, despite these contributions, Dembélé faced scrutiny from some journalists last Saturday, labeling him as “inconsistent,” a remark Luis Enrique did not forget in his post-match comments.

Enrique’s Defense of Dembélé

Following his team’s resounding victory, Luis Enrique enjoyed the moment but was quick to clarify that “this isn’t the best version of his team this season.” He took the opportunity to address the criticism directed at Dembélé, stating: “I appreciate players like Ousmane, who may be seen as irregular. For me, he’s a unique talent with the ball.” This was a pointed defense from the Spanish coach.

PSG’s Title Challenge and Champions League Aspirations

After being knocked out of the Coupe de France by Paris FC (2-1) in the round of 16, PSG is now focusing on both Ligue 1 and the Champions League. The capital club remains alert to the challenge posed by Lens, their main competitor in the league this season. However, Luis Enrique emphasized to the media that “there is no message to send to our rivals.”

Upcoming Crucial Matches for PSG

With high-stakes games on the horizon, the importance of these matches is not lost on anyone at PSG. They will face a struggling Rennes this Friday at 7 PM for the 22nd round of Ligue 1, before turning their attention to the Champions League, where they will play a two-legged tie against Monaco.