PA Media/dpa
London
Luis Enrique has piled praise on Ousmane Dembele after his second hat-trick in as many games powered Paris Saint-Germain to a 5-2 win over Brest at the weekend.
Dembele, 27, is in red-hot form - he has scored 14 goals in his last eight matches, having not failed to find the net since the 0-0 draw with Auxerre on December 6.
After his treble against Stuttgart in the Champions League last Wednesday, Dembele became the first player in club history to score consecutive hat-tricks to help the champions stay 10 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
“Ousmane has always been an exceptional player, no matter what position he plays in,” PSG boss Luis Enrique said. “He can dribble past two or three players, make assists, score goals.
“Our goal with him is the same as always: find spaces inside or on the wings.” Dembele can expect to get a rest on Tuesday night when PSG face Championnat National 3 side Le Mans in the Coupe de France.
But with PSG enjoying a strong advantage at the top of the league, Luis Enrique said he will carefully balance his selections with a Champions League play-off against Brest to come next week.
“I have to make decisions about who is going to play, who is not going to play, who is in the squad and who is not in the squad based on the short-term, mid-term and long-term, it depends,” Luis Enrique said.
“When you look at the schedule and the competitions, we have a lead in the league but not in the Coupe de France because if we lose tomorrow, we are out. We have two games in the Champions League, so in every competition there are decisions to be made.”
Luis Enrique said he has no injuries to deal with. When asked if this match offered an opportunity for Presnel Kimpembe to make his comeback after almost two years out with an Achilles injury, the coach simply said: “Maybe”.
PSG have used the winter window to bring in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli, and Enrique said he was happy with their business as Randal Kolo Muani and Milan Skriniar went out on loan and Xavi Simons’ stint at RB Leipzig was made permanent.
“Since last season, we have done the transfer window together with the sporting management, the president, we have improved the squad,” Luis Enrique said.
“We can have the impression that sometimes there is not enough room for everyone. But we have done something we were looking for, to bring competition.”
