Luis Enrique issues a warning to Doué's bench against Slovan

After shining from the start of the Super Cup and being part of Paris’s starting eleven during the first five matches, the Frenchman Désiré Doué was relegated to the bench against Slovan Bratislava, where PSG won 6-1, following Luis Enrique’s warning about increased competition.

Warning and rotation against Slovan

Luis Enrique reminded that competition at PSG had intensified and that contracts protected no one. He said: “There are no longer any starters or substitutes.” This doctrine was applied from the Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava.

Doué started on the bench and did not even come on during the emphatic Parisian victory (6-1). Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos and João Neves also spent the match among the substitutes. Luis Enrique explained that he was looking for “the best players for this match,” regardless of contracts.

Return to the eleven and impact against Marseille

Three days later in Brest, Doué again started as a substitute. Ferran Torres, Ousmane Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia formed the attacking line selected by the Spanish coach. The Frenchman had, however, started the first five matches of the season, making the message clear.

In the meantime, Ferran Torres established himself as a more serious competitor, temporarily pushing Doué down the offensive hierarchy. The coach never spoke of a permanent demotion, reminding that Doué was “incredible” before the Classic. But the coach reaffirmed that the competition would remain open to everyone.

Ahead of the match against Marseille, Luis Enrique again placed Doué in the starting eleven. After a quiet first half, Doué delivered the decisive cross to Ferran Torres who opened the scoring. He was substituted in the 79th minute as PSG secured a 2-1 victory.

The warning proved real: two average performances can be enough to temporarily lose one’s place at PSG. Doué learned this quickly and showed that he could respond when called upon.