Manchester City: the sensational entry of Ousmane Dembélé left its mark

It was the big surprise at the start of the evening. It’s around 7:45 p.m. and PSG unveils its official lineup for the clash against Manchester City in the Champions League. For the most important match of the season, Luis Enrique decided to do without Ousmane Dembélé, replacing at kick-off. The Spanish coach is banking on an attack made up of Kang-in Lee, Barcola and Doué. Although he was ill at the start of the week, Dembélé seemed well suited to start this meeting. And when discussing his choice to leave him on the bench, Luis Enrique had once again played the mystery card.

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“I have nothing to say. I will analyze everything when the match is over. But at this time, I will not give any clue to the opponent, even less one hour before the match” confided Luis Enrique at the microphone of Canal+. A few minutes later, The Parisian revealed that Ousmane Dembélé felt fit to play and that his absence was therefore a tactical choice. A tactical choice which did not bear fruit and which Luis Enrique abandoned very quickly. At half-time, the former Spain coach decided to bring in the French international.

A sensational entrance

He thus decided to bring out a still very messy Kang-in Lee in this match. And it didn’t take long before Ousmane Dembélé showed how essential his profile is to this PSG. A hard-hitting dribbler but above all explosive in his ability to swallow spaces, he reduced the gap just 10 minutes after coming into play. He was on the receiving end of an excellent cross from Barcola. A goal that changed the match as Luis Enrique confirmed at a press conference. “The first goal with this action from Barcola was key, it opened a new scenario. From then on, we were very superior to City.

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Confident then, he made misfortunes in his right lane as when mystifying Bernardo Silva with a small bridge of which he has the secret before following up with an overpowering strike which crashed on the bar. He could even have ended the match with a double if his goal had not been canceled for an offside position (83rd). No matter, in 45 minutes, Ousmane Dembélé managed to be in all the right places. And a performance like this, in such an important match, makes an impression. In the mixed zone, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was enthusiastic about his team, believing that this victory gave credibility to the Parisian project. Recruited for 50 million at Barça almost two seasons ago, Ousmane Dembélé is also gaining credibility against a big European team. Now it remains to be regular.