Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain, 28-year-old striker Ousmane Dembélé is more than ever a favorite for the Ballon d’Or. Didier Deschamps, coach of France’s national team, spoke at a conference on the subject, offering his support to his striker.
Deschamps “If you ask me between Lamine Yamal and Ous’, it’s 100% Ous’”.
“Obviously, I’m 100% behind Ous’ (Ousmane Dembélé) for the Ballon d’Or, with the season he’s having. He deserves it. If you ask me between Lamine Yamal and Ous’, it’s 100% Ous’. We can always do better, and Ous’ is demanding of himself, but he was decisive in our last match.
Quite simply, because of what he’d done less of in other seasons at club level, he’s set the bar very high this season. And after that, he won’t be going on vacation, as he still has the Club World Cup (June 14 to July 13, in the United States) on his schedule.”
Obviously, as coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps supports Ousmane Dembélé. He also knows the player very well, and has been able to analyze him from every angle. Like Luis Enrique, Didier Deschamps knows Dembélé’s self-sacrifice and determination.
His season with PSG was simply XXL. But beyond his statistics (49 games, 33 goals, 13 assists, all competitions combined), it’s also his mentality that has left its mark. So, even if Lamine Yamal is gradually establishing himself as an extraterrestrial, the tricolor international’s season should not be overlooked. The Club World Cup is the one that could reshuffle the pack or give Dembélé pole position in the race for the Ballon d’Or.
