Dembele to miss Le Mans game as PSG manage international workload

Paris Saint-Germain have given Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes several days off after the international break, meaning both players will miss Saturday’s Ligue 1 match against Le Mans at the Parc des Princes.

The decision was announced by the club on Friday, with the pair granted rest following a demanding period with their respective national teams. Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique will therefore be without two key members of his squad for the fixture.

“In coordination with coach Enrique and the sporting management, Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes are taking a period of rest,” Paris Saint-Germain said in a statement on its X account.

“Each of them will resume training on Saturday 10 October and Sunday 11 October, respectively.”

Dembele played in all four of France’s matches during the international break. The forward completed two of those games, while his appearances in the other two totalled 82 minutes.

Mendes also featured heavily for Portugal under manager Jorge Jesus. The full-back played the entirety of three matches and was substituted in the other after 78 minutes.

The workload accumulated by both players was a factor in the decision to stand them down. Dembele and Mendes have established themselves as important figures in Enrique’s starting line-up, but the club has opted to provide them with additional recovery time before they return to training.

For Dembele, this is the second time this season that he has been given a period of rest. He previously took time away from training at the end of August, when Enrique and his coaching staff decided he needed a break after a demanding previous campaign.

That season ended with Dembele representing France at the World Cup, adding to the physical demands placed on the forward before the current campaign. The latest decision reflects Paris Saint-Germain’s continued management of his workload following his international involvement.

Mendes’ absence also leaves Paris Saint-Germain without a regular option at left-back for the meeting with Le Mans. Both players are expected to resume work on the dates specified by the club, with Dembele returning on Saturday 10 October and Mendes following on Sunday 11 October.