Luis Enrique plays down transfer urgency after injuries to Hakimi, Dembélé and Nuno Mendes, backing PSG’s depth and outlining tactical adaptations ahead of Lyon.
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PSG coach Luis Enrique struck a measured tone as he assessed a spate of injuries to key starters, insisting there is no rush to move in the transfer market.
Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé and Nuno Mendes will all be sidelined for the next few weeks after setbacks in midweek against Bayern Munich, a game Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-2 at home in the Champions League. Even so, the Spanish manager reiterated that the club’s planning does not swing wildly on short-term availability. He said the door is always open for smart additions, but stressed that urgency for its own sake rarely produces the right deal.
Pressed specifically on Hakimi, Dembélé and Mendes, Luis Enrique emphasized calm rather than alarm. Injuries are part of a long season, he argued, and every squad encounters periods where several first-teamers are unavailable at once. That reality is built into PSG’s workload management and rotation plans. The medical and performance staff have already mapped out return-to-play pathways for the trio, and the manager underlined that the club remains relaxed and focused on solutions inside the current group.
The most immediate test arrives in the league against Lyon, where PSG must adjust both their structure and their buildup patterns. Hakimi’s absence affects the right-side dynamism that underpins much of Paris’s progression from the back. Under Luis Enrique, the right back often provides width and acceleration to stretch the first line of pressure, combining with the right-sided midfielder and winger to create overloads. Without that outlet, PSG may lean more heavily on midfield rotations to access the half spaces, or ask the right winger to hold the touchline to keep the pitch wide before cutting inside. They could also invert a full back in possession to add an extra midfielder and stabilize rest defense when counters threaten.
Dembélé’s short spell on the sidelines removes one of the squad’s most disruptive ball carriers. His ability to eliminate defenders off the dribble forces opponents to collapse, opening passing lanes for cutbacks and late arrivals. In his absence, PSG will likely redistribute creative duties across multiple profiles rather than asking for a like-for-like replica. Expect more combination play between the midfield eights and the center forward, quicker wall passes around the box, and a greater emphasis on third-man runs to break lines without relying solely on individual take-ons. Set pieces could also gain prominence as a route to chances, especially if the game state becomes tight.
Nuno Mendes’ injury is a separate tactical headache because it affects the left flank’s balance between width and underlaps. The Portuguese full back offers straight-line speed, recovery pace and an aggressive starting position that pins back opposing wingers. Without him, Luis Enrique may choose a more conservative left back profile to secure defensive transitions, asking the left-sided midfielder or winger to provide the width instead. That adjustment can subtly shift PSG’s possession map, with more play moving through central corridors and the right half space to keep circulation clean and safe.
Beyond specific roles, Luis Enrique framed this as an opportunity for the wider squad. Minutes that are hard to find in peak periods now become available. Players who have trained well but waited behind established starters can translate that work into real match rhythm. For a coach who values compact squads and clear role definitions, these stretches are useful for stress-testing depth, sharpening internal competition and surfacing new combinations that can be revisited later in the spring.
This conservative stance on the market reflects broader club strategy. PSG have been disciplined about avoiding reactive recruitment that misaligns with their game model or medium-term salary structure. The coaching staff prefers integrating solutions already familiar with the pressing triggers, spacing rules and positional play principles installed over months on the training ground. If the right profile emerges at the right price, the club remains attentive. If not, the calculus is to protect the dressing-room hierarchy, preserve financial flexibility and trust the development of players already embedded in the system.
The message also protects the group psychologically. By downplaying urgency, Luis Enrique reduces external pressure on any potential short-term replacement and reinforces belief in the players who will step in. When a coach refuses to panic, it signals confidence in the processes that produced recent improvements, even after a disappointing European result. That steadiness can matter as much as tactical tweaks, particularly before a domestic match against an opponent that will be motivated to exploit any perceived instability.
From a performance perspective, PSG’s immediate priorities are clear. First, control transitions. With full back reshuffles and a different balance on the wings, rest defense needs to be impeccably organized to prevent end-to-end sequences that bypass PSG’s midfield. Second, manage the tempo. Longer spells of measured possession can protect a rotated back line and allow new combinations to breathe. Third, lean into collective chance creation. Patterns that involve quick circulation, under-to-over runs, and exploiting the blind side of the far full back can compensate for the absence of a dribble-first winger.
In the coming weeks, the return timelines of Hakimi, Dembélé and Mendes will determine how many of these adaptations become lasting features rather than stopgaps. If the trio progress on schedule, PSG should re-emerge with a fresher supporting cast and a broader set of workable structures, the kind of marginal gains that pay off in the decisive phases of the season. If setbacks occur, the groundwork laid now will be invaluable, because it builds alternative pathways to goal and defensive stability that are not dependent on any single player.
For now, the club’s stance remains consistent. There is vigilance in the market, but no compulsion. There is recognition that injuries change the matchday look, but not the identity. And there is a belief that the current squad can meet the demands of the next run of fixtures by applying the same principles that underpin PSG’s best performances: compactness without the ball, patience with it, and speed at the decisive moment.
