Luis Enrique rests Ousmane Dembele and points to PSG's squad depth

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has given forward Ousmane Dembele a short break from matchday duty, explaining that the decision is about managing workload rather than any fresh injury. The 29-year-old was left out of the squad for PSG's Ligue 1 fixture against Lille and was given several days of complete rest before returning to training.

The background is a compressed calendar. Dembele went almost straight from international duty with France into the new club season, which left him without a normal pre-season block. Enrique said the aim is to have him properly recovered for the busier months ahead rather than pushing him through every fixture now.

The coach used the moment to stress the value of a deep squad, a theme he has returned to repeatedly. PSG rotated heavily across competitions last season, resting key attackers in some domestic games while leaning on them in Europe. Enrique described Dembele as an essential player for the side, and reports suggest he is expected back in contention once the rest period ends.