Luis Enrique lays into PSG after troubled Rennes outing

Luis Enrique has demanded a stronger response from Paris Saint-Germain after a difficult visit to Rennes, directing his anger at both his players and the officials. The coach said PSG could not rely on past achievements, singling out Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele for failing to prove his readiness every day, in every match and at every training session. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also withdrawn at the interval.

PSG’s problems were clear from the opening stages at Roazhon Park. Sebastian Szymanski put Rennes ahead in the ninth minute, before Esteban Lepaul added a second goal to leave the French champions two behind at half-time. The performance prompted Luis Enrique to remove Dembele and Kvaratskhelia, with the coach demanding that his squad keep pushing beyond its comfort zone rather than draw confidence from what it has already won.

The Spaniard was also frustrated by the handling of time-wasting. He argued that referees had promised action during previous meetings but had not applied it consistently when Rennes players delayed restarts. Referee Dechepy did use the revised rule by awarding PSG a corner when Brice Samba took too long over a goal kick, but that decision did not settle the coach. Luis Enrique was booked soon afterwards for protesting too forcefully, adding a disciplinary consequence to an afternoon that left him sharply critical of his team and the officiating.