Paris Saint-Germain faces its most critical week after falling 2-1 to Paris FC in a preparation match for the Champions League final against Arsenal. Concern is growing in the dressing room because Ousmane Dembélé had to be substituted before the 30th minute due to an apparent muscle injury. Luis Enrique described the end of the season as complicated, just as the team is about to play the most important match in its history on May 30.
Tactical analysis: forced rotations and the toll of the physical model ⚽
Luis Enrique's high-pressing scheme demands constant muscular wear, increasing the risk of injuries in decisive stretches. Dembélé's potential absence would force a readjustment of the attack, likely with Kang-in Lee or Asensio as the right winger. Additionally, the defense showed fragility in transitions against Paris FC, a problem Arsenal can exploit with their counter-attacking speed. The medical staff is working against the clock to recover the Frenchman, but the margin is minimal.
PSG and its tradition of arriving at finals with one foot in the infirmary 😅
If there's one thing PSG does well, it's making things difficult for itself before a final. They lose against a second-tier team, their best players get injured, and on top of that, Luis Enrique says the end of the season is complicated. It almost seems like a ritual: first the drama, then the miracle or the debacle. If Dembélé misses the final, a meme will surely appear of him in the stands eating popcorn while Arsenal celebrates.