Paris Saint Germain manager Luis Enrique has revealed that he had no qualms about dropping Ousmane Dembele for disciplinary reasons, saying on Saturday that he did it for the good of the team even though they lost for the first time this season without the Frenchman.
Dembele has now become the focus of PSG's attack with Kylian Mbappe out of the way.
The 27-year-old France international has reportedly started the season well, netting four goals and four assists in all competitions.
However, Dembele was dropped for their Champions League trip to Arsenal where his side suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Luis Enrique speaking in an interview ahead of Sunday's trip to Nice, said: "When a player doesn't meet their obligations, this is the sort of thing that can happen. Everything is now in order."
"I'm tough when I have to be tough and more permissive when it is needed. That is one of my big skills as a coach and as a person. Every player has a series of obligations to meet, so every player who does that is available.
"If they make a serious mistake, I will make the right decision, whether it is easy or difficult. I have no issue in doing that even if it seems difficult because we always think about what is best for the team," he said without giving more details of what happened.
PSG who are Ligue 1 leaders are unbeaten with 16 points, ahead of AS Monaco on goal difference.
"We're doing well. After analysing the game (against Arsenal), we've changed our mentality and we're back in league action, ready to compete. That is a good thing because if you lose, there is a game straight after," Luis Enrique remarked.
"We are imperfect, we will improve but I am certain that this team will fight in all competitions. If we replay this match against Arsenal, at home at the Parc des Princes, perhaps the result will not be the same," he added.
Nice are ninth under new Head coach Franck Haise and Luis Enrique while speaking said that some aspects of their game are similar, they are "very tight defensively" having conceded only six goals so far and he expects a tricky game.
"They have a well-known coach with a personality that he instils in his teams. They play at a high level, so it will be difficult. They press high up the pitch and are strong on the ball," he said.
"They defend well and it will certainly be tough. It has always been a difficult place to go but we are motivated to continue doing what we are doing to stay top of the table."
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé sees himself as the new figurehead of the new PSG project, following talks with the club’s board who are said to have encouraged Dembélé to assert himself more on the pitch as the number 1 attacker - but not promising him any separate or special status.
According to PSG report in a post on X on Friday, Dembélé has told those close to him a desire in taking greater responsibilities on the pitch. However, Dembélé hit the first roadblock when Luis Enrique decided to make Vitinha the main penalty taker which Dembélé didn’t understand - he expressed his disappointment about it in the locker-room after the Le Havre game.
Luis Enrique criticized Dembélé during the Rennes game, for some of his actions on the pitch, essentially his selfishness.
Nevertheless, Dembélé and Luis Enrique have talked and the situation is now calm between the both of them.
