Paris Saint-Germain were handed a fresh injury scare on Sunday when Ousmane Dembele was forced off during the loss to Paris FC, leaving his status in doubt less than two weeks before the Champions League final against Arsenal on May 30.
Dembele, making only his 11th Ligue 1 start of the season, came off shortly before the half hour mark at Stade Jean Bouin after appearing to struggle with a suspected calf problem. Goncalo Ramos replaced him as PSG, despite already having the Ligue 1 title wrapped up, avoided taking any risks with one eye firmly on the final.
The timing is what makes the setback matter. PSG are trying to defend their European crown and also looking to hand Arsenal a second Champions League final defeat, so every fitness concern now lands with extra weight. Dembele has just under a fortnight to prove he can be ready, and Luis Enrique sounded cautiously upbeat after the match.
“He’s fine. I hope it’s nothing serious,” Enrique said, while adding: “What we’re saying today is just speculation, but I don’t think it’s anything serious, and there are still two weeks left.” It was the kind of answer coaches give when they do not want to turn a knock into a crisis, but also do not want to promise more than the evidence allows.
PSG’s wider injury picture offers some comfort, even if it does not remove the concern around Dembele. Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes missed the defeat to Paris FC because of injury, though all three are expected to be fit for the Champions League final. Bradley Barcola, meanwhile, is reportedly not at 100 percent after the ankle injury he sustained in the round of 16 second leg win over Chelsea. He missed a month of action after that blow and has completed 90 minutes only once in ten appearances since.
That leaves PSG with a sharp final stretch to manage before May 30. Dembele’s setback may yet prove minor, but with the final against Arsenal closing fast, the club no longer has the luxury of treating any injury as routine.
