Major Boost for PSG as Star Forward Nears Return
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has delivered a significant team update, confirming that Ousmane Dembele is likely to be available for selection for Wednesday's crucial Champions League encounter against Tottenham Hotspur. This news comes as a welcome relief for the French champions, who are seeking to recover from recent European disappointment.
Dembele's Fitness Battle and Super Cup Heroics
The Ballon d'Or winner has experienced a difficult season, hampered by two separate injury problems that have restricted him to just nine appearances across all competitions. However, after participating fully in Tuesday's training session, his manager provided optimistic news to reporters. "He's trained well. We'll see tomorrow. If there's no problem, he'll be in the squad," Luis Enrique stated.
Dembele's potential return evokes memories of the last meeting between these two clubs in August's Super Cup final. On that occasion, Tottenham raced into a two-goal lead and seemed destined for victory. However, Dembele inspired a dramatic late comeback, with PSG eventually triumphing in a penalty shootout after the match finished 2-2.
Enrique's Cautious Optimism and Marquinhos Milestone
While acknowledging the positive memory, the PSG boss was quick to highlight the different context of Wednesday's match at the Parc des Princes. "The Super Cup? That was the first game of the season; Wednesday's game will be different," Enrique reflected. "It's a good memory because it ended well, but a bad memory if I think back to the first 60 minutes when we were struggling."
He also paid respect to an unbeaten Tottenham side in the Champions League, calling them "a strong side" with "most of their players are internationals." Despite this, Enrique expressed confidence in his team's current readiness, saying, "We're more ready to be a dominant team and to win the match."
Adding further significance to the European night is a potential landmark for club captain Marquinhos. The Brazilian defender, an unused substitute in Saturday's 3-0 win over Le Havre, is in line to make his 500th appearance for PSG if selected. Luis Enrique lauded this incredible achievement, stating, "He's a different kind of player, a true leader. He's important and I hope to have him for many more years to come."
The stage is now set for a compelling Champions League fixture, with the return of a key attacker and a historic personal milestone creating an electric atmosphere in Paris.
