PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN have hit out at the French Football Federation after star duo Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue picked up “serious and avoidable” injuries while on international duty.
The French giants are seething after both players suffered muscle issues in France’s clash with Ukraine, ruling them out for crucial upcoming fixtures, including a Champions League showdown against Barcelona on October 1.
Dembele, 28, pulled up with a hamstring injury in the 81st minute after coming on at half-time.
Meanwhile, Doue was subbed off at the break with a calf strain.
PSG confirmed Dembele will be sidelined for six weeks, with Doue out for around four, and the club didn’t holding back the blame.
In a blistering statement, the Ligue 1 champions accused the French national team of ignoring medical warnings and failing to communicate with the club’s medical staff despite being given detailed info about the players’ conditions before training even began.
The statement read: “Paris Saint-Germain deplores the fact that the medical recommendations were not taken into account by the French national team’s medical staff.
“There was a total lack of consultation with its medical teams.”
They called the situation “serious and avoidable” and demanded the urgent creation of a new medical coordination protocol between clubs and the national team to protect players’ health and careers.
The statement continued: “The recent serious and avoidable incidents must result in swift and immediate corrective action.”
France boss Didier Deschamps defended his decision, claiming Dembele was fit enough to play.
He said: “I was sure he was capable of playing at a high level, otherwise I wouldn’t have played him.
“It’s the other thigh [from the Toulouse injury]. It’s unfortunate but could’ve happened to another player.”
But PSG are clearly not buying it.
Both injuries are a huge blow to the French champions, who now lose two key players at a vital point in the season, with Dembele even being touted as a potential Ballon d’Or contender.
Despite reaffirming their “commitment” to the French national team, PSG are demanding big changes to how players are managed between club and country.
They insist it’s time for “documented and reciprocal exchanges” between team doctors and say the current lack of coordination is putting careers at risk.
Read the full article here