What actually happened to Dembele? Is he injured once again?

The latest medical report points out that Ousmane Dembele will be out for between three and four weeks through injury. Up to one month without the mazy runs and the goals of the guy nicknamed 'Dembouz'. 

"Ousmane Dembele has a muscle tear in the femoral biceps of his left thigh", reads the medical statement issued by Barcelona. He pulled up injured against Lyon. Two similiar injuries in just a few days.

The Catalan daily, 'Sport', points out two circumstances which could have contributed to this new setback for the Frenchman. The first piece of information is that Dembele did not want to leave the field even when he had picked up a knock. Ernesto Valverde and Jordi Alba asked him to come off, but Dembele was so convinced he was fine that the squad were relaxed. Hours later, news broke of his injury. 

The second bit of information Sport provides is that Barcelona were convinced Dembele would not play and that he was given the green light before he was actually ready. A bad piece of management, taking into account Dembele's previous injury problems. 

Dembele had given Barca's medics a scare last Saturday against Rayo Vallecano. He played for various minutes against Lyon, scored and then pulled up injured and had to leave the pitch for good. The result is three to four weeks on the sidelines. 

March 14, 2019