Dembele Defines PSG Defensive Intensity, Says Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique describes Ousmane Dembele as central to Paris Saint-Germain’s identity before the Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30, stressing both attacking and defensive work, while also expecting Dembele and Achraf Hakimi to recover from minor issues in time for the showpiece.

Dembele has been managing a small calf problem since the Ligue 1 campaign ended, yet Luis Enrique anticipates the winger will make the squad in Hungary, where PSG’s forward line chases more records after a prolific Champions League season that positions the club close to history.

For Luis Enrique, the main story around Dembele is no longer limited to goals or assists, but the wide forward’s defensive output, which the coach believes reflects the standards required at PSG, especially since the Champions League final win over Inter last year underlined that collective effort.

"Ousmane's mentality is to be a leader. No coach of the youngsters cannot show what Dembele does when defending at any minute. This is important, Luis Enrique said.

"We have the mentality of highlighting the strikers when they score or assist, but at no time do we highlight what they do in defence. We must not forget that a player and a team, when they do not have the ball, have to defend. In basketball, it's the same. If not, it is impossible to win. Dembeleshows all the time his individual quality with the ball and his ability to perform without the ball."

Since Luis Enrique took charge in July 2023, Dembele has produced 97 goal involvements in all competitions, the most by any Ligue 1 player, while also playing a decisive role in the club’s rebuild and lifting both the Champions League trophy and the Ballon d'Or last season.

Dembele scored three times in the semi-final victory over Bayern Munich this season and now finds the net in three straight Champions League appearances for PSG, a sequence last achieved in early 2025, while the current campaign shows seven goals in 12 matches in UEFA’s leading competition.

PSG have struck 44 times during this Champions League campaign, the second-highest tally by any club in a single season, leaving Luis Enrique’s side just one goal behind Barcelona’s record of 45 from 1999-00, when Barcelona were coached by Louis van Gaal.

"I don't remember that. It's true, because if we look at what we did in the past, it doesn't change the future, Luis Enrique said of that record. I believe that the future must be better than the past. These are statistics that show the level we have. And if you look at Arsenal and their stats, you can see how high they are. The level of both teams is very high. We are looking to score a lot of goals and win. We know that it will be very difficult. At the end of the game, there will be some sad fans and others happy."

As PSG prepare for Arsenal in Budapest, Luis Enrique continues to link Dembele’s attacking numbers with tactical discipline, presenting the winger as a reference point for younger players while also acknowledging that both teams bring strong statistical records into a contest likely to decide whose supporters celebrate.