The French star Ousmane Dembélé is experiencing an exceptional and complex season with Paris Saint-Germain, after having an outstanding football year during which he won several team titles, in addition to winning the individual Ballon d'Or award.

Despite this great success, the French winger is currently experiencing a noticeable decline in his physical condition due to the pressure of matches and the dense competition schedule, which has not given him enough opportunity to rest during the 2024/2025 season.

Muscle injuries have once again plagued Dembélé, as the player has missed 14 matches since the beginning of the current season due to several different injuries.

The latest injury occurred during a match against Monaco in the UEFA Champions League, which sidelined him from Spanish coach Luis Enrique's plans for two weeks. During that period, Paris Saint-Germain secured its qualification to the round of 16 in the continental tournament and strengthened its lead in the domestic league, benefiting from the stumble of its closest rival, Lens.

The coaching staff of Paris Saint-Germain had to look for tactical solutions to compensate for the absence of their influential star, and the young player Bradley Barcola succeeded in fulfilling this role during the recent match against Le Havre.

Barcola managed to score his team's only goal in that match, providing his coach with an additional option while awaiting Dembele's return to lead the attacking line in the upcoming games.

Dembele underwent thorough medical examinations last Tuesday to assess the extent of his recovery from the calf injury he sustained, according to the Spanish newspaper "Sport."

There is a cautious optimism within the Paris Saint-Germain medical team regarding the possibility of the player's return to the field sooner than expected, as hinted by coach Luis Enrique during his press conference. He indicated the potential inclusion of the player in the squad that will host Monaco on Friday at the Parc des Princes, in a match that will be repeated three times within just two weeks.

Despite the positive indicators regarding the player's condition, the club's technical and medical staff prefer not to risk involving him until his full readiness is confirmed, especially with the crucial dates approaching, most notably the anticipated match against Chelsea next Wednesday, a rematch of the Club World Cup final.

The newspaper indicated that Dembélé is striving to reach the best possible physical condition to help his team win titles, in addition to confirming his presence with the French national team during the upcoming international break. He may participate in the anticipated friendly match against the Colombian national team on March 29th in preparation for the World Cup.