Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes Out as PSG Returns to Action

On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain will face the recently promoted Le Mans Football Club in Ligue 1, but two players will be absent, and their absence will not go unnoticed.

The Parisian squad is in training. Some players were on international break, but the team is now back together after their national team commitments.

And while the fans were excited to welcome back their players, unexpected news surprised and confused most, prompting them to question things.

The surprise of the day came on Friday, when PSG's official accounts announced that both forward Ousmane Dembele and left-back Nuno Mendes would be out of action to rest.

According to PSG's official X account, the decision was made that both Dembele and Nuno would be excluded from the club's training sessions and commitments to rest, and would return to training starting Oct. 10.

It didn't take long for people to notice, as mockery flooded PSG's account, especially targeting the club's No. 10. Many believe that giving him a rest period (mainly referring to Dembele) is an absurd decision.

For others, the answer is favoritism and overprotection for the Frenchman, since he has not played as regularly as he used to, and the team's coach, Luis Enrique, always gives him long rests.

Is this decision really stirring up so much commotion? Luis Enrique seems to have the answer. At a news conference before the match against Le Mans, the coach addressed the doubts.

The Spaniard explained that, after such a long international break, it was concluded that both Nuno and Dembele needed rest.

"After this long international break, we are thinking about each player individually. We all decided Nuno and Ousmane needed rest to focus on the upcoming Ligue 1 and Champions League matches. You have to get used to it, because this will be the norm this season."

The key is that the decision for both to be absent does not appear to be about favoritism, but rather about remembering that the forward has a history of recurring injuries.

Taking care of Ousmane Dembele's physical condition and ensuring he performs well in more demanding matches, such as the Champions League, should not surprise anyone; it is what a team should prioritize, especially since he is a key player.

PSG will face Le Mans FC this Saturday in Ligue 1. The players will be at the Parc des Princes, and according to Luis Enrique, it will be a difficult match; they will need to be more attentive than usual.