Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has dismissed comments made by Ousmane Dembélé following his side’s 3-1 defeat to Stade Rennais, insisting that “no player is above the club.”
In the immediate aftermath of Friday night’s loss in Brittany, Dembélé publicly called on his teammates to “play for the club instead of thinking about themselves” – a pointed remark that hinted at possible frustrations within the PSG dressing room.
Speaking in his post-match press conference transcribed by L’Équipe, Luis Enrique was unequivocal in his response. “The statements from players at the end of the match have no value. None. Those of the coaches neither, but those of the players — none,” he said.
The Spanish coach went further, making clear that he would not entertain questions based on a player’s comments. “I’m not going to answer any question about a player, nor any response from a player. I will never allow any player to be above the club. It’s clear. The person responsible for the team is me.”
Luis Enrique underlined the institutional hierarchy at the club, stressing that neither he, the sporting director nor the president stands above PSG as an institution. “I will not allow any player to think he is more important than the club. Not me, not the sporting director, not the president, not the club. These statements are worth nothing. They are the fruit of anger after a match.”
The defeat saw Rennes capitalise clinically in a 3-1 victory, whilst Les Parisiens struggled to convert key moments, including a missed one-on-one from Désiré Doué during a second-half counterattack.