Luis Enrique Reveals Why He Dropped Dembele as He Heaps Praise on Arsenal’s Progress
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has made a bold statement ahead of his team’s highly anticipated Champions League clash with Arsenal, calling Mikel Arteta’s side “one of the best teams in Europe.” Enrique, speaking in a pre-match press conference, praised Arsenal’s development under Arteta, saying their rise to elite status has been impressive both with and without the ball.
“I think they are one of the best teams in Europe at the moment,” Enrique told reporters. “With the ball, they are very close to the top European level, and without the ball, they are also very good. I would even say that they are one of the best teams in the world without the ball. They are a team with a real identity. We are similar but also have different styles of play.”
Arteta, who secured Arsenal’s return to the Champions League with a second-place finish in the Premier League, faces his former Barcelona teammate in what promises to be a thrilling contest. Both men briefly played together at Barcelona, and Enrique fondly recalled their time as teammates. “We were team-mates for a season at Barcelona, even though he was young at the time. I have good memories of him. He’s one of the best coaches on the market right now and has helped Arsenal become a club that wins titles again,” Enrique added.
While praising Arsenal, Enrique also addressed the surprise exclusion of PSG winger Ousmane Dembele from the squad for the Arsenal fixture. Reports from France suggest that Enrique and Dembele had a heated exchange after PSG’s 3-1 win over Rennes last Friday, but the Spanish coach downplayed any lasting tension. “There are difficult circumstances, difficult decisions. I am 100 per cent committed to my decisions, but they are not irreversible,” Enrique explained. “I have the support of the management, the sporting director, the president. I am here to create a team and to do it also with Ousmane Dembele.”
Enrique insisted that the situation with Dembele is not a distraction. “There is no dispute between the two of us, that is totally false. There is a problem of commitment of the player towards the team but not a problem between the player and the coach,” Enrique concluded, aiming to put an end to rumors of a feud.
With both teams looking to make a statement in the Champions League, all eyes are on the managers and their tactical battle at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Luis Enrique Reveals Why He Dropped Dembele as He Heaps Praise on Arsenal’s Progress
