Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembélé, 28, received rare praise from Marco Van Basten on Ziggo Sport, relayed by L’Équipe. The three-time Dutch Ballon d’Or winner compared his axial repositioning to Johan Cruyff’s way of playing, underlining the collective impact of this tactical choice.
Van Basten “His freedom has allowed the collective to become very good”
“He plays a bit like Johan Cruyff, who was often a false striker,” he said, immediately adding that he was “talking about the way he played”, not the intrinsic level – even if the path of thought is striking since, since then, a good number of players have evolved in this false number 9 role.
“It started around the middle of the season, because there were still a lot of problems at the beginning. When Dembélé started playing in the center, his freedom allowed the team to become very good.”
Ousmane Dembélé has established himself as an atypical striker at Paris Saint-Germain, thanks to both his refined technique and his ability to adapt to the demands of the team. His versatility, ambidexterity and creativity remain intact, but he now puts these qualities at the service of the group.
This season, his defensive commitment, his intelligence when playing without the ball and his ability to make his partners shine were decisive factors in PSG’s successes, particularly in the Champions League. Dembélé is no longer just a dribbler or a breakaway player: he now embodies tactical maturity and team spirit, the symbol of a Parisian collective that is finally united and performing well.
