Ousmane Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain’s 28-year-old striker, answered questions from the media on Wednesday ahead of the Champions League final against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena on May 31 (CET). He spoke in particular about his team’s determination, his role in the squad and the potential Ballon d’Or.
Dembélé “the whole club is hungry.”
“What does this Champions League final represent, the second in PSG’s history?
It’s magnificent. Personally, it’s my first final. I want to savor it, and I’m taking it with a smile and concentration. After that, for PSG, we know what it means. As I’ve said from the start, the whole team is hungry. We want this victory.
Are you looking forward to it?
Really, yes. We’re used to playing every three days and now we’ve got a week, so it’s a bit long. But first things first. Before thinking about the Champions League, we’re thinking about the French Cup final (against Reims, Saturday at 9pm) because it’s important to win all the trophies. After that final, we’ll be thinking about the Champions League.
Some of your team-mates say you still have to savor these moments. Is that one of your key words?
That’s it. You have to savor it because you never know if it’s going to happen again in your career. Very few teams make it to the final.
It’s great to see such determination from PSG. It’s one of the things that has made all the difference in this European campaign. The Parisians, many of whom are still building their careers, are hungry. Marking the club’s history and their own with this Champions League is a goal that gives them extra strength.
But let’s be careful not to put too much pressure on ourselves. It’s the idea of having fun that comes back the most, especially from coach Luis Enrique. That’s what he wants to convey, and you can hear it in the players’ speeches. But we know that nothing will be easy against Inter Milan, of course.
Dembélé also spoke of his role with the youngsters in the squad.
Dembélé “the coach kept telling me that I had to lead by example too”.
“We talk a lot about the youth of the squad. What’s your role with the youngsters? Are you a kind of big brother?
In a way. I’m one of the oldest members of the team. At the start of the season, the coach told me repeatedly that I had to set an example for the younger players too. I don’t try to coach them, but to give them a bit of advice. In any case, they’re intelligent people, so it’s easy.”
Without being particularly old, Dembélé is one of the most senior members of the squad. This can give him a certain responsibility, a special role. Without overdoing it either, since several of the “youngsters” are already internationals and have a wealth of experience. But Dembélé’s experience can be useful. In any case, he’s an excellent leader, both in and out of the game.
Dembélé “Before thinking about myself, I think about the team.”
“There’s a lot of talk about the Ballon d’Or. Can you ignore it ?
I get a lot of chatter on the subject. But as I keep saying, when you’re a PSG player, there are far more important things than individual awards. The club has never won this long-awaited trophy. Before thinking about myself, I think about the team.”
On the subject of the Ballon d’Or, Dembélé’s line of reasoning remains unchanged throughout the interview: first and foremost, the team. That’s what’s needed in soccer, and what has enabled PSG to get to the final with so many individuals putting in one great performance after another. Let’s hope this continues so that we can win finals. If there’s a Ballon d’Or at the end, so much the better. But that’s not what we’re aiming for.
