Désiré Doué, Paris Saint-Germain’s 19-year-old versatile winger, is exploding at the highest level. With PSG and the French national team, he’s being watched and praised. Téléfoot has reserved a full-length interview for him. He talks about his dreams, his joy, his first appearance for the French national team and his idols (transcribed by us).
Doué “Today I am, there are many dreams coming true”
Signing for PSG?
When I was very young, I knew I wanted to be a professional footballer, and I always told myself that I had to work very hard to achieve that goal. Today, I am one, and there are several dreams coming true.
It’s a project that appealed to me straight away. We have one of the best coaches in the world. The president convinced me that this project was just right for me. I’m very happy today, I’m getting a lot of playing time and I feel very good at PSG, and there are a lot of players with whom I get on really well. It’s a very satisfying choice for me.
Doué “I don’t intend to stop, I’ve got to keep going, but it’s all down to daily discipline”
Where have you made the most progress ?
In terms of efficiency, both defensively and offensively. There are more stats. In modern soccer, that’s very important for a lot of people. When it comes to the efficiency of my game, there are things you don’t notice, but there are things I’ve been able to improve, and I’m happy about that.
On his first appearance for the French national team
I had a great time tonight. And thank you to the fans who pushed me, I felt it and I thank them. I don’t intend to stop, I’ve got to keep going, but it’s all down to daily discipline. And I think everything will go my way.
Doué “That’s what I really like about this player”
What’s changed since your time with the U19s and U-21s?
What’s changed today is that there are already two stars (laughs), there’s a lot of emotion and a lot of pride. The French national team was a dream of mine when I was a kid, and today it’s a very beautiful step.
Do you have any role models of players who have worn the jersey?
There’s Zinédine Zidane, Thierry Henry and the more recent generation, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Kylian who’s still here.
Antoine Griezmann too, he’s a player who always brings danger, he’s very intelligent in his game and he was an attacker who was capable of going tackling to recover balls. He was a truly all-round player. That’s what I really like about him.
Doué “ Kylian, c’est Kylian ”
Do you like being compared to Mbappe ?
I’ve been told that before, but I’m Désiré Doué and Kylian is Kylian. He’s already done a lot of things in soccer and I’m trying to create my own voice.
I’m a pretty straightforward person, smiling and happy. I realize how lucky I am to be able to play soccer every day, it’s a blessing for me.
