PSG boss Luis Enrique provides Ousmane Dembele injury update ahead of Arsenal second leg

Ousmane Dembele scored the winning goal as Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, but the forward is an injury doubt for the second leg

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has offered an update on Ousmane Dembele after he was forced off with an injury in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Arsenal on Tuesday.

Dembele scored the only goal of the game as PSG beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates, but he was replaced in the second half by Bradley Barcola after suffering a hamstring issue. The forward has been a key player for PSG this season, netting 33 goals in 45 games across all competitions.

And while Enrique does not believe it is a “serious injury”, he has admitted that Dembele is a doubt for the second leg at the Parc des Princes next week. “He’ll undergo tests tomorrow,” Enrique said at his post-match press conference.

“It’s not serious, it’s something very minor, but he’s probably a doubt for the second leg. We’re going to try to get Dembele back on the pitch. But we’re a real team.

“If Ousmane can play, that’s better. But if he doesn’t, we’ll still be a real team. We’ve been saying that since the start of the season.”

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Reflecting on PSG’s victory in the first leg, Enrique added: “We’re thinking about how difficult this match was, because the atmosphere in the stadium was incredible. But I think we showed our true mentality, we got off to a good start and we gave ourselves confidence.

“I think it’s a great moment for us, but we need to recover and think about the next match. The return leg will be difficult and tight. But we’re very happy and I think we gave our fans something to cheer about: the joy of seeing our mentality and our ambition to play in every game.

“There are a lot of emotions tonight, but I think we should really enjoy the support of our fans, because they’re incredible every time. Today there were 2,500 of them and everyone felt their support for the team.

“We know it will be difficult, that there will be moments of suffering, but with the support of our fans and with the character we’ve displayed, we will show what a real team we are. We’re happy but we can improve. Everyone needs to know that.”

PSG defender Willian Pacho added: “I’m very happy, to be honest, with the result, with the desire and with the way the team played. With the commitment shown by each and every one of us. Coming here to play against Arsenal is difficult, but we did what the coach asked of us.

“We played well and we’re happy. I know that when we play together, as a team, no one can beat us. The support from the fans is incredible. We heard them here, and it will be the same at home.

“Their support is exceptional. They are very important and will continue to be so, as they always have been. We are together, a united family, and we will win together.”

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