France national team coach Didier Deschamps has downplayed suggestions of a brewing conflict between his squad and Paris Saint-Germain following injuries to star players Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue during international duty.
Dembele, PSG’s top scorer last season and a frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, sustained a hamstring injury during France’s 2–0 win over Ukraine in World Cup qualifying on Friday.
He is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Doue, also injured in the same match, faces a month-long recovery, dealing a double blow to PSG as they prepare to defend their Champions League title.
In response, PSG sent a formal letter to the French Football Federation (FFF), demanding a “more transparent and collaborative coordination protocol” between clubs and national teams.
The club claimed it had submitted detailed medical data outlining player workload limits, which it says were ignored.
Deschamps, speaking ahead of France’s fixture against Iceland at PSG’s Parc des Princes, defended his medical team’s approach.
“Our staff did things in a very professional and progressive way, as we do with all the players,” he said.
“Even if they are eager to play, that feeling is always a very important element for us”.
He emphasized that PSG is not viewed as an adversary.
“The clubs never have been, even if our interests go in different directions, and that is normal,” Deschamps said.
“I’ve been on the other side of the barrier. Our only opponent is Iceland.”
To illustrate ongoing cooperation, Deschamps cited cases like Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and Arsenal’s William Saliba, who were excused from reporting to camp after scans confirmed their injuries.
“I am not going to make them come when we are perfectly aware it’s not possible,” he added.
The incident has reignited debate over player welfare and the balance of power between club and country, especially as PSG navigates a packed schedule following their Club World Cup run in July.