JAKARTA - Paris Saint-Germain received a boost ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg match, Thursday, May 8, 2025, early morning WIB, against Arsenal.
Ousmane Dembele was declared fit when the Ligue 1 champion tried to change the cohesiveness of the growing squad to a place in the Champions League final.
Dembele, who scored his only goal in last week's 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, suffered a muscle injury during the match. However, he will be available at the Parc des Princes.
"He has been training with the squad for two days so he is available for tomorrow," PSG coach Luis Enrique told a news conference on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, local time.
This is good news for PSG whose progress this season has not been built on individual luminosity, but rather on the collective spirit and tactical maturity that often missed them in previous European campaigns.
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Luis Enrique, who was brought in to overhaul the team that was once formed by big stars, did not keep his mission a secret to build units capable of competing at the highest level.
"This season we have grown rapidly as a team. You have to be ready to face any scenario and pay attention from start to finish."
"The target for the coming years is to continue to improve the process," he said when asked about last season's Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
The solid evolution was evident in the first leg of London, in which the compact form of PSG, aggressive pressure, and controlled possession frustrated Arsenal's attack rhythm.
Defender Achraf Hakimi said the team's new identity had become the key to their pace.
"The key is to show our personality with and without the ball and press high."
"Arsenal knows the Parc des Princes are our home," said Hakimi.
PSG's only appearance in the Champions League final ended in defeat to Bayern Munich in 2020.
While the only Champions League final for Arsenal came in 2006 when they lost to Barcelona in Paris.
"We had to play well last week. Although many expect the same game, I guarantee the results will be very different," said Luis Enrique.
The winner will face Inter Milan, who will meet in the final on May 31, 2025 in Munich.
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