Paris Saint-Germain has received a significant boost ahead of Wednesday’s pivotal Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal. Ousmane Dembele, who scored the decisive goal in PSG’s 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium, has been declared fit to play.
Dembele sustained a muscle injury during the first leg, but PSG coach Luis Enrique confirmed at a Tuesday press conference, “He has been training with the squad for two days, so he is available for tomorrow.”
This news is a welcome relief for PSG, whose progress this season has been characterized by a growing sense of team cohesion and tactical discipline, a departure from their past reliance on individual brilliance.
Luis Enrique, brought in to reshape the team, has emphasized building a united squad capable of competing at the highest levels of European football. He stated, “This season we’ve grown so much as a team. You have to be ready for any scenario and pay attention from start to finish.” When questioned about the team’s evolution following last season’s semi-final loss to Borussia Dortmund, he added, “The target for the coming years is to keep improving the process.”
PSG’s newfound identity was evident in the first leg in London, where their well-organized structure, aggressive pressing, and controlled possession effectively disrupted Arsenal’s attacking flow.
Defender Achraf Hakimi highlighted the team’s new approach, saying, “The key is to show our personality with and without the ball and press high. Arsenal will need to feel that the Parc des Princes is our home.”
PSG’s sole Champions League final appearance was in 2020, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich. Arsenal reached the final in 2006, losing to Barcelona in Paris.
Looking ahead to the second leg, Luis Enrique remarked, “We will have to be as good as last week, but while many expect the same kind of game, I guarantee you it will be completely different.”
The winner of this semi-final will face either Inter Milan or Barcelona in the Champions League final, scheduled for May 31st in Munich.
