Luis Enrique, the Spanish manager of Paris Saint-Germain, the French Ligue 1 champions, stated on Monday that it is no surprise that Ousmane Dembele has been performing strongly lately, adding that the French forward possesses qualities that make him a game-changer.
Dembele scored a hat-trick in his last two matches, helping Paris Saint-Germain secure a 4-1 away victory over Stuttgart in the UEFA Champions League and a 5-2 win over Brest in Ligue 1.
The 27-year-old French international has scored 25 goals and provided 19 assists in 68 matches for the Parisian club since joining from Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga.
In a press conference ahead of PSG’s Round of 16 match in the Coupe de France against third-division Le Mans tomorrow, Luis Enrique said: "Dembele is a different player, and he's always been a different player regardless of his position. He can dribble past two or three players, deliver decisive passes, and score goals. Our goal with him has always been the same, he is a player who makes a difference."
He added: "To be a player at Paris Saint-Germain, you have to be ready for situations like these, and that’s why we consider it a team sport. Inside the team, everything is easier to deal with."
Regarding injuries, Luis Enrique mentioned that there were no serious concerns regarding the condition of defensive midfielder João Neves, who had received a knock to his right foot against Stuttgart.
He continued: "There are no injuries; it’s just that the match schedule and intensity have made things more demanding. He’s not dealing with any serious injuries, we just need to manage the workload."
Enrique also expressed satisfaction with the quality of his team as the French transfer window is set to close later on Monday.
