PSG's injury crisis causing Luis Enrique to question his management

PARIS (AP) — The injuries are piling up so much for Paris Saint-Germain that coach Luis Enrique is questioning his management of the squad.

PSG's home defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday was compounded by injuries to three major players: Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele (calf tear), right back Achraf Hakimi (sprained ankle) and left back Nuno Mendes (sprained knee).

They were arguably PSG's three best players last season and they all face weeks out, as does rising star Desire Doue (thigh tear). Nine PSG players have been injured since August and some — like Dembele and Doue — have been injured twice.

"It is something I should handle much better, given all of my experience," Luis Enrique said after the Bayern game.

But Champions League holder PSG appears to be paying the price for an exhausting last season, which stretched until the Club World Cup final in mid-July and saw some players appear in more than 60 games. PSG's high-octane style and incessant closing down of opponents also demands a lot.

Defending Ligue 1 champion PSG leads second-placed Marseille and Lens by two points heading into this weekend's games.

PSG's depleted defense could face a tough time at Lyon, which is in sixth place and is strong at home. A victory for Lyon on Sunday would move it to within one point of PSG and open up the title race even more.

There could be a shakeup in the top five with Lens traveling to play Monaco on Saturday and injury-hit Marseille hosting Brest.