According to reports, this incident occurred before the match against Arsenal on October 1, when a heated argument between the coach and the player pushed their relationship to the brink of collapse. Dembélé did not travel to London, and PSG lost 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Enrique’s decision sparked widespread criticism in France, as Dembélé, who was expected to replace Kylian Mbappé, was considered the team’s best forward. French media blamed Enrique for sidelining the team’s star player.

Enrique, however, firmly defended his decision, saying: “If someone doesn’t fulfill their team duties properly, it’s unacceptable to me. It was a tough decision, but it was the best for the team, and I would make it a hundred times over. This is reversible, and there was no argument between me and Dembélé.” A few days later, Dembélé apologized to Enrique, and the Spanish coach immediately reinstated him to the starting lineup.

The saga ended, but Dembélé’s exclusion from the match against Bayern Munich on November 26 and the 1-0 defeat led Enrique to bench him for the next two games as punishment. These pressures pushed Dembélé to peak in December, delivering an outstanding performance with the motivation he gained from Enrique, making him one of the contenders for the Ballon d’Or—a chance that would double if PSG wins the Champions League.

Now, PSG is on the path to a historic treble, and Dembélé has become one of the best players in the world. With 32 goals and 12 assists (44 goal contributions in total), he is the top scorer of 2025 and leads PSG’s attacking charge.

Dembélé also plays a key role in the dressing room, motivating his teammates and even showing frustration after defeats like the recent one at Villa Park, taking responsibility in front of the media. Enrique, who has always praised Dembélé as a player worth buying a ticket to watch, has elevated him to a new level with his firm management.

Now, upon returning to the Emirates, Dembélé has the opportunity to showcase his abilities against Arsenal, where his transformation story began. Although he hasn’t scored in his last five matches, his impact goes beyond statistics, and he is ready to challenge Arsenal in the Champions League.