France coach Deschamps defends decision to play Dembélé and Doué after both PSG stars got injured

By Canadian Press on September 8, 2025.

PARIS (AP) — France coach Didier Deschamps has defended his decision to play Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué in a recent World Cup qualifier, even though both Paris Saint-Germain stars were injured in the game.

They are expected to be out for several weeks and likely to miss title holder PSG’s first two matches of the Champions League, at home to Atalanta and away against Barcelona.

“PSG is not our opponent, it never has been, even if we have interests that may diverge. Our only opponent is Iceland,” Deschamps said Monday ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier. “We did things professionally, progressively, as we do with every player, taking into account how they feel. Unfortunately, this happened and it concerns two PSG players.”

Deschamps was speaking a day after PSG wrote a letter to the French soccer federation complaining about the injuries sustained by Dembélé and Doué last Friday. PSG’s letter urgently called for a “ more transparent and collaborative ″ medical protocol between club and country.

Dembélé will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury and Doué is out for around four weeks with a calf strain. However, Deschamps insists his medical staff properly assessed both players before allowing them to train and then play against Ukraine.

But Deschamps was asked if PSG’s anger over the two injuries now means he will not risk selecting PSG winger Bradley Barcola against Iceland.

“Then I will have Bayern calling me (about a player), Real Madrid calling,” Deschamps said, smiling. “I’m the one who makes the decisions, I have my staff, my responsibilities. I always take into account the players’ feelings.” ___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press

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