Dembélé scores at Manchester City and jokes about his 'holidays'

By the PSG News newsroom · Published on 2026-10-15 · Updated on 2026-10-16 · ousmane dembélé · champions league · manchester city · luis enrique · psg

Rested for a few days by Luis Enrique, Ousmane Dembélé scored in PSG's 4-2 Champions League win at Manchester City, then responded with humour to criticism of his break.

A successful return after the break

Paris Saint-Germain won 4-2 away at Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Among the Parisian scorers was Ousmane Dembélé, who netted his side's second goal at the end of a fine move with Désiré Doué.

The performance came straight after a few days of rest granted to the forward, still the reigning Ballon d'Or holder, by Luis Enrique. It was the second break of its kind since the start of the season. It followed an international break with France that was considered difficult, and it had drawn criticism.

Answers dripping with irony

Rarely seen in front of the microphones, Dembélé used his post-match interview to respond, in his own way, to those who had commented on his rest. "I didn't read any of it at all. There was the international break and then I went on holiday. In fact, I might ask for another holiday," he quipped.

The former Rennes player continued in the same vein: "It was a good game. On a Tuesday or a Wednesday, I really enjoy playing, especially when I'm coming back from holiday."

Asked, half-jokingly, whether he might be rested again the following weekend given how effective he is in the Champions League, he replied: "It's possible. Until March, I think, then we'll see. It's the coach who decides."

No stranger to pointed messages

This is not the first time the forward has used his press appearances to get a message across. Last summer, at the World Cup, he repeatedly insisted on the need to "stay focused" after scoring a hat-trick against Norway, a way of answering the criticism he had received over his start to the tournament.

This time, the mood was decidedly more relaxed. Buoyed by PSG's win in England, Dembélé chose humour over confrontation, while making clear that the management of his playing time remains in Luis Enrique's hands.