Home / Sports / Dembélé's Dilemma: Form vs. Fitness Clash at PSG
Dembélé's Dilemma: Form vs. Fitness Clash at PSG
20 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Dembélé struggles with fitness, missing key matches due to injuries.
- Tension brews between Dembélé's team and PSG staff over his readiness.
- The Ballon d'Or winner seeks rhythm through starts, but club disagrees.
Ousmane Dembélé, who won the Ballon d'Or last September after leading Paris Saint-Germain to a Champions League victory, is experiencing a challenging season marked by injuries and a struggle to regain his top form. He has only managed five goals and four assists in 17 games across all competitions.
Since sustaining an injury against Bayern Munich in early November, PSG has been cautious with the Ballon d'Or winner's fitness. This careful management has created tension between Dembélé, his representatives, and the club's coaching staff, according to reports. Dembélé believes starting matches is crucial for his rhythm, while the staff remains hesitant.
Consequently, Dembélé has not started a Ligue 1 game since his injury and again appeared as a substitute in a recent Intercontinental Cup match, where he missed chances and a penalty. The situation highlights a growing disagreement over his playing time and readiness to perform at his previous high level.
