登贝莱 jokingly expressed his delight at the prospect of requesting additional time off from coach Enrique after his impressive performance in Paris Saint-Germain's 4-2 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League. This Ballon d'Or winner shone on the pitch with a goal and an assist during Wednesday's crucial match. Following the international break, Enrique had granted him some much-needed rest, leading to his absence in the prior home fixture against Le Havre, while his form against Manchester City was nothing short of exceptional.

In an interview with Canal Plus, he commented, “After the international break, I took a vacation. In fact, I might just ask for a few more days off.” He further expressed his enjoyment of playing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, particularly after a holiday, describing it as a true pleasure. When queried about potentially taking another holiday, a smile crept across his face as he replied, “Possibly, but I think that would be in March. It ultimately depends on the coach.”

This weekend, Paris Saint-Germain is set to face Strasbourg away, followed by a high-stakes Champions League clash against a Barcelona side led by the fiery Ansu Fati next Tuesday. Given the intensity of the upcoming fixtures, Enrique might opt for a rotation of players. In the match against Le Havre, he hadn’t included Nuno Mendes, and earlier in the season, Dembele had also missed a Ligue 1 match against Lille. 谈球吧

Last season, Dembele was awarded the title of the best player in Ligue 1, despite starting only nine matches throughout Paris Saint-Germain's championship campaign. This decision sparked criticism, as the award was given to him over players with significantly more appearances. Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca remarked that Paris Saint-Germain possesses an advantage that other Premier League teams lack, particularly their ability to manage player rotations against less competitive teams in Ligue 1 before Champions League matches. He noted, “They can afford to rotate players leading into the Champions League, whereas we face a different scenario, especially when visiting venues like Anfield.”

On Sunday, Manchester City, competing in a highly charged atmosphere against their Premier League rivals Liverpool, finds themselves with a tighter preparation window than Paris Saint-Germain. Last season, the Ligue 1 governing body acquiesced to Paris Saint-Germain’s request to postpone their match against title competitors Lens to better prepare for their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, a decision that some observers perceived as favoritism.

Ultimately, Paris Saint-Germain secured the trophy for the second consecutive year, triumphing over Arsenal in a tense penalty shootout during the final. So far, Dembele has found the net three times in the Champions League, yet he has yet to score in four Ligue 1 matches this season. Following six rounds, his team stands sixth in the league, displaying some performances that fall below expectations. He stated, “While others may question us, we really don’t care. It’s only October, and we’ve just had our second Champions League match. Our focus is to stay the course in the first half of the season and prepare for what lies ahead in the second half.” 谈球吧

However, he did acknowledge that PSG had displayed some lapses in concentration against Manchester City, saying, “We were a bit complacent in the second half. When you’re up against players of that caliber, any hint of relaxation can cost you dearly.”