PSG Furious As Dembele, Doue Suffer Injuries On Int’l Duty

PSG forward Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out of action for six weeks after sustaining an injury while on international duty with France.

He was brought on at halftime against Ukraine on Friday before coming off in the 81st minute holding his right hamstring.

Dembele’s PSG teammate, Desire Doué also suffered an injury and came off at halftime against Ukraine.

He suffered a strain in his right calf and will be out for around four weeks.

Both players are set to miss the Champions League clash against Barcelona on Oct. 1, as well as several other important domestic fixtures.

Ligue 1 champions PSG slammed the France Football Federation for disregarding its recommendations on injury risks, and acceptable workloads for the club’s players.

The club released a statement on Sunday, demanding that a new protocol should be set up between clubs and national teams.

The statement read: “Following the confirmation of injuries to its players called up to the French national team, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué — with significant sporting consequences for the players and the club — Paris Saint-Germain sent a letter to the French Football Federation urgently calling for a new medical-sports coordination protocol between clubs and the national team, more transparent and collaborative, to make the health of players and their medical support an absolute priority.

“Paris Saint-Germain, which monitors its players’ medical needs throughout the year and has access to precise and detailed information, had provided the Federation with concrete medical information, even before the start of the French national team’s training session, on the workload its players could bear and the risk of injury.

“The club deplores the fact that these medical recommendations were not taken into account by the French national team’s medical staff, as well as the total lack of consultation and consultation with its medical teams.

“The recent serious and avoidable incidents must result in swift and immediate corrective action. The Club stands ready to actively contribute to this collective effort, in the interest of the players and professional football as a whole.”

Meanwhile, French national team coach Didier Deschamps said Dembele was fit enough to feature in the game against Ukraine.

He said: “I was sure that he was capable of playing a high level match, otherwise I would not have played him. This time, it is the other thigh [than against Toulouse]. He was fit. It is unfortunate for him but could have happened to another player.”

Dembele, and Doue played a vital role as PSG won the Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Champions League treble last season, with

Doue was named the man of the match in the Champions League final win over Inter Milan.

Dembele was the team’s top scorer last season with 35 goals, and 16 assists across all competitions.

The former Barcelona will miss five Ligue 1 encounters against Lens, Marseille, Auxerre, Lille, Strasbourg, and two Champions League games against Atalanta, and Barcelona.

PSG Furious As Dembele, Doue Suffer Injuries On Int’l Duty is first published on The Whistler Newspaper