Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé did not start in the Toulouse/PSG match. Coming on as substitutes in the 50th minute, they made a significant impact, and Luis Enrique stands fully behind this decision.
Luis Enrique was already annoyed by the French press. When asked about the choice to keep Mbappé and Dembélé on the bench, the PSG coach was straightforward in the press conference. “They are world-class players. They both performed very well, created opportunities. I manage this with my players and staff. I know you like controversy, but I will continue to handle it my way,” he retorted, visibly annoyed.
“I attribute this draw mostly to bad luck because at 1-0, we had three chances to finish the match. I attribute this draw to a lack of control. The match became a bit chaotic, and we had the misfortune of conceding a penalty. You want a bit less possession, I want a bit more. You want less control, I want a bit more,” he further stated.
However, Luis Enrique also believes that Dembélé will be a force to be reckoned with. “He’s a player who creates imbalances and can make a difference in one-on-one situations. He’s capable of easily dribbling past players, which creates opportunities. He’s still lacking in match fitness, but I thought he was very good,” he added.