Enrique hails 'marvellous' Dembele

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique hailed his Ballon d'Or winning forward Ousmane Dembele for a "marvellous" performance as the French club began its bid to claim a third straight Champions League title with a big victory on Wednesday.

"That was the Ousmane that we all know and that we have seen over the last three years, and when you see the ability he has to create and to press, to help the team, it is a real pleasure," PSG's Spanish coach said after Dembele scored the first two goals in PSG's 6-1 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava.

Prior to this Dembele had been used sparingly in PSG's matches so far this season as he builds up his fitness again after the World Cup.

"He played really well. He will build up his fitness gradually but it is marvellous to see a player like that," Enrique added.

Dembele also set up two goals for Ferran Torres, who netted a hat-trick on his European debut for PSG. Fabian Ruiz got the home team's other goal.

PSG ran out easy winner despite Enrique leaving both Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, two of his other key attacking performers, on the bench.

"Kvara and Doue are incredible players. For me Kvara could win the Ballon d'Or, as could Dembele and others," said the coach, with 10 PSG stars listed among the 30 nominees to win the most prestigious individual award in the game.

Enrique was also full of praise for his opposite number Yaya Toure, who is in charge of Slovan this season, despite the heavy defeat for the away side.

"Today was not the best day for them because we showed it can be very difficult to play against us when we press at that level. It is difficult for any opponent, but he has the quality to be a great manager," said Enrique.

Toure, former Cote d'Ivoire, Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder, is the first African to coach a team in Europe's elite club competition.

"It is difficult to play away to the team that has been champion in the last two years but I love the way they try to play," Toure said.

After leading it through three qualifying rounds to get to the league phase, Toure acknowledged that it was impossible to compete with the defending champion.

"For me Paris are going to be close to winning the trophy again, and my players gave their best but it wasn't easy. They are exceptional," said Toure, who was appointed by the Slovak club during the off-season. "I can't put four men on Dembele. I want my team to play too, and they did all they could.

"I was disappointed today because Ousmane hasn't looked at his best in the last few games but tonight he was at 200 percent," he joked.

"I have been working with these players for just a few months and now they understand how good the very best teams are.

"There is a considerable gap between the sides but this will help us grow and get better."

AFP