Enrique: Dembélé is a key player in our project, we will manage player minutes

Luis Enrique, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, confirmed that the decision to rest Ousmane Dembélé was made in coordination with the coaching staff and the sporting management, emphasizing that it does not represent a punishment for the player, who is a key element in the team's project.

Ousmane Dembélé started in the first round of Ligue 1 against Rennes before being substituted at the start of the second half, with Paris Saint-Germain trailing 2-0. Ferran Torres came on in his place, scoring two goals to lead the team to a 2-2 draw.

Paris Saint-Germain announced after the match that they would grant Ousmane Dembélé a few days off, with plans for him to return to team training on Monday, August 31. This decision is part of a policy aimed at giving players who have undergone long periods of competition a chance to recover.

Luis Enrique explained that this policy is not new, pointing out its previous application with several players, including Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, and Kylian Mbappé.

Luis Enrique stated: "Dembélé has put in a great effort during his break to participate in the UEFA Super Cup, and he is a key player in Paris Saint-Germain's project. I am very impressed with his potential."

He added: "Dembélé is not the only player who will get rest periods during the season, and we will need to manage players' minutes and give them time to recover at different times."

The decision to rest Dembélé comes after a busy summer, where he participated with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa, appeared as a substitute against Lens in the Champions Trophy, and then started in the opening match of Ligue 1 against Rennes.