Dembele criticism branded ‘worthless’ by Luis Enrique

February 16, 2026 Oliver Obel

Luis Enrique brushed aside Ousmane Dembele’s public criticism after Paris Saint-Germain’s 3–1 defeat to Rennes, insisting that no individual player or coach stands above the club.

The PSG manager reacted forcefully when asked about Dembele’s post-match remarks, calling them “absolutely worthless” and stressing that responsibility rests with him alone.

“The players' statements after the match are worthless,” Enrique said. “Absolutely worthless. Neither are the coaches' statements, but the players' statements are worthless. I'm not going to answer any question from a player, any response from a player.

“I will never allow any player to be above the club. So, it's clear. I am the person responsible for the team. I will not allow any player to think that he is more important than the club. Neither me, nor the sporting director, nor the president, nor the club.”

The unusually sharp response followed Dembele’s candid assessment in an interview with Ligue 1+, where he suggested PSG had drifted from the collective mindset that underpinned last season’s success.

"Above all, we have to play for PSG in order to win matches," Dembele said.

"If we play as individuals on the pitch, it won't work, we won't win the titles we want.
"Last season, we put the club before everything else, before thinking about ourselves. We have to rediscover that, especially in these matches.

"We know we're in the second half of the season. And Paris Saint-Germain has to come first, not individual players."

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On the field, PSG dominated possession finishing with 69 percent but lacked defensive control and cutting edge in key moments. Rennes, operating under interim coach Sebastien Tambourets, were clinical instead. Musa Al-Taamari struck first, Esteban Lepaul extended the lead after the break, and although Dembele briefly pulled one back, Breel Embolo sealed the result late on.

The loss ended a seven-match league winning streak and injected fresh tension into the title race. Lens remain within touching distance and could overtake PSG depending on upcoming results. For a side accustomed to setting the pace domestically, the margin for error is narrowing.

Timing adds to the pressure. PSG are preparing for a two-legged Champions League play-off against Monaco, with the first leg scheduled for Tuesday. European fixtures have often served as a barometer of the club’s internal stability and public disagreements rarely ease scrutiny.

Dembele framed his comments as a call for unity. Enrique saw them as unnecessary noise.

The result in Rennes may sting, but the sharper issue for PSG is whether frustration turns inward or is channeled into the response their manager is demanding.

Sources: Ligue 1+ interview; PSG post-match press conference.