Ousmane Dembele delivered strong criticism after Paris Saint-Germain lost 3-1 at Rennes, warning that players must again put the club above personal goals. The defeat leaves PSG vulnerable in the Ligue 1 title race, with Lens able to move back top if Lens beat Paris FC on Saturday, adding pressure on Luis Enrique and the squad.
Dembele scored PSG’s only goal in Rennes, yet described the display as lacking spirit and unity. The forward argued that the current approach is too individual. Dembele also linked the team’s mindset to last season’s success, stressing that collective effort had been stronger then and must return during this crucial second half of the campaign.
Dembele did not hold back when speaking to Ligue 1+ after the match. "We started
the match very poorly," Dembele told Ligue 1+. "Rennes played a very good game, but I think we need to show more desire. Above all, we have to play for PSG in order to win matches. If we play as individuals on the pitch, it won't work, we won't win the titles we want. Last season, we put the club before everything else, before thinking about ourselves. We have to rediscover that, especially in these matches. We know we're in the second half of the season. And Paris Saint-Germain has to come first, not individual players. "
The result continues a worrying pattern for PSG in all competitions under Luis Enrique. After 35 matches this season, PSG have 21 wins, eight draws and six defeats. That is already their highest number of losses at this stage of a season since 2020-21, when they had suffered eight defeats after the same number of games.
Despite the loss, PSG created many chances in Rennes. Paris Saint-Germain posted 3.62 expected goals, the second-highest xG figure without a win for the team under Luis Enrique. The only higher similar total came against Newcastle United in the Champions League, when PSG produced 4.54 expected goals yet still did not manage victory.
Key match and season figures for PSG are shown below, highlighting both attacking output and defeats:
Under QSI ownership, Rennes have become a difficult opponent for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. Rennes have now beaten PSG eight times in 29 league meetings during this period. No other Ligue 1 club have inflicted more defeats on PSG in that span, making Rennes the side Paris Saint-Germain have lost to most often domestically.
8 - Dfaites du Paris SG en Ligue 1 sous QSI Rennes - 8 Monaco - 7 Lyon - 6 BteNoire. #SRFCPSG #Ligue1McDonalds pic.twitter.com/NUU7W6hM9iOptaJean (@OptaJean) February 13, 2026
Speaking to the club website, Luis Enrique acknowledged PSG’s attacking volume but accepted Rennes’ superior efficiency. "It's a difficult analysis to make because I think we dominated the first half, creating a lot of chances, but we went in at half-time trailing 1-0," he told the club website. "Afterwards, we created a lot, we had almost four expected goals but only scored one, whereas Rennes created fewer than two but scored three goals. Given that they were that efficient, they deserve to win. We need to improve, we're annoyed because this result means a little less confidence for the team. And the opponent feels they can win, and in that sense, it's more difficult for us. "
The setback at Rennes leaves Paris Saint-Germain needing a reaction in both Ligue 1 and Europe. Dembele’s call for team-first thinking, along with Luis Enrique’s focus on efficiency, highlights the issues PSG must address. With the season moving deeper into its decisive phase, every match and every chance carries greater weight for the club.
