Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique praised forward Ousmane Dembele for his performance after the team secured a 6-1 victory against Slovan Bratislava in their Champions League opener on September 9, 2026. Dembele scored the first two goals of the match, contributing significantly to the team's success. "That was the Ousmane that we all know and that we have seen over the last three years, and when you see the ability he has to create and to press, to help the team, it is a real pleasure," Enrique stated.
Dembele had previously been used sparingly as he regained fitness following the World Cup. Enrique noted, "He played really well. He will build up his fitness gradually, but it is marvellous to see a player like that." In addition to his goals, Dembele assisted Ferran Torres, who scored a hat-trick during his European debut for PSG, while Fabian Ruiz added another goal.
Despite the heavy defeat, Enrique also commended Slovan Bratislava's coach, Yaya Toure, for his team's efforts. "It is difficult to play away to the team that has been champions in the last two years, but I love the way they try to play," he remarked. Toure acknowledged the challenge of competing against the defending champions, stating, "For me, Paris are going to be close to winning the trophy again, and my players gave their best, but it wasn’t easy. They are exceptional." Toure, who is the first African coach in Europe’s elite club competition, expressed disappointment in the loss but recognized the learning opportunity for his players.
"I have been working with these players for just a few months, and now they understand how good the very best teams are. There is a considerable gap between the sides, but this will help us to grow and get better," he added.