Luis Enrique has insisted that Paris Saint-Germain are still seeing the “best version” of Ousmane Dembele, despite the club carefully managing his minutes this season.
Dembele has still made a strong impact in Ligue 1, scoring 10 goals to sit joint-top for PSG, while also providing six assists, second only to Vitinha.
However, he has started just nine of his 19 league appearances this season and has played only 930 minutes, reflecting his controlled usage by the club.
Ahead of a demanding week that includes matches against Angers in Ligue 1 and Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Luis Enrique praised Dembele’s importance to the team.
“For us, he is very important; he is the Ballon d’Or winner, a leader in both attacking and defensive work,” he said.
“We have managed this season very well, with Ousmane and his feel for the game. We are still seeing the best version of Dembele.”
PSG currently lead Ligue 1 with a four-point advantage over Lens, while Angers sit 13th after a mixed run of results.
Luis Enrique also pointed to PSG’s defensive strength, highlighting four consecutive clean sheets as a key factor in their strong form.
“Regarding clean sheets, we did what we always do. We’re always looking to improve,” he said.
“We have to be courageous and ambitious. Playing good football is a prerequisite for playing in our team.”