Paris Saint-Germain will be without Ousmane Dembélé for several weeks after the forward suffered a thigh injury. His absence forces manager Luis Enrique to find a new solution at the false nine position, a key role in his tactical setup, as the club sits first in Ligue 1 with 20 points from nine games, recording six wins, two draws and one loss.
The Parisian coaching staff believes young Senny Mayulu is the player whose profile most closely matches Dembélé's. "Mayulu is the one who comes closest to Dembélé's profile, and the one who best fits what Luis Enrique asks for from the position," it was stated. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder shone in the last Ligue 1 match, scoring and providing an assist in the 5-1 win at Le Havre on Saturday 30 October, a result that is part of a recent run of three wins and two losses from the last five outings.
Other options are on the table but present different profiles. Ferran Torres, the club's top scorer this season with 4 goals in nine appearances, brings experience but is not considered a direct like-for-like replacement for Dembélé. Maghnes Akliouche possesses rare technical quality in tight spaces, while Désiré Doué has played the position before but is seen as the least natural fit. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will not be available until spring.
This tactical re-think comes as Paris Saint-Germain has scored 21 goals and conceded 10 this season and holds a lead of just two points over Lille. The club faces Villarreal away on Tuesday 3 November in the Champions League, a key match to maintain their positive momentum. Dembélé's injury, occurring while the team leads Ligue 1, tests the squad's depth ahead of a busy schedule.
Background and full detail: L'Equipe Football
