On Saturday, in the final of the Champions League 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain will face Inter Milan at Munich’s Allianz Arena (kick-off 9pm, CET). On the eve of the match, Paris striker Ousmane Dembélé (28) answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Dembélé “you don’t know if you’re going to relive moments like that”.
What does it mean to be in the Champions League final?
Hello, as I’ve said many times this season, I’m very proud to be in the final. We’ve worked very hard, and it wasn’t easy at the start of the Champions League season, but we’ve managed to change that dynamic, especially in the second half of the season. It’s exceptional to be here in Munich in the Champions League final. It’s nothing but pleasure, because you never know if you’re going to live through moments like that again, so we take it with a great deal of seriousness, but also a great deal of joy.
Are you thinking about the Ballon d’Or? The title is more important, but are you still thinking about it?
As I’ve said over the last few weeks, the most important thing is to win the Champions League. I’m focused on the team and not on individual trophies. It may work on the mind a bit, but I take it out of my head and think mainly about the team.
Dembélé “We’ve changed that mentality”.
What has changed since Arsenal and against Munich, when you were sent off?
It was a difficult game against Bayern Munich, and I’ve always had complicated games here. That’s part of soccer and it’s been a complicated and difficult period for me. Particularly my performances. We had to change the dynamic and the team had to raise its level, and I myself raised my level. I’m happy with what we’ve done since January in particular. We’ve changed our mentality and we’re trying to keep on winning.
Dembélé: “We’re going to have to control all our emotions”.
What’s the best way to deal with emotions? Do you have to release them or contain them?
That’s a good question, we’re going to have to control them. We know there’s a lot of excitement, but as we’ve rehearsed, we’re going to have to control ourselves and play calmly, seriously and with a smile. These are incredible moments, but we’re going to have to control all our emotions and that’s one of the keys to tomorrow’s match.
Is it an advantage or a disadvantage to be up against Pavard?
Yes, I’m happy to be up against them again, especially in the final. They too have had a great year and, as I said, Benjamin Pavard is a very good player who’s hard to get past and he’s very intelligent, but I hope that tomorrow won’t be his day and that it’ll be ours. It’s great to see them in the final.
Dembélé: “Inter Milan are a great team”.
What’s different about this team compared to the opponents you’ve met?
As I said, Inter Milan are a great team. They’ve been playing together for 4.5 years, and they know each other like the back of their hand. They’re a very physical team, but they play the ball very well, they know how to defend and attack well. They know how to keep their backs to the wall during the match. We’re going to have to be serious right to the end and leave them nothing to chance, because if you lose concentration for even a moment, you can pay for it in cash. And we’re going to have to stay focused right to the end, because they’re a great, great team.
What have you learned from your great finals with the French team?
There was one final in 2018 where everything went really well for the French team and another where I was very bad. These things happen in soccer, but I’ve been preparing very well for this Champions League final since I was a kid. I’m preparing for it calmly, very seriously and with great concentration, but these are moments I won’t forget, and I’ll have to stay focused on the game, on the team and not just on myself. I’m preparing very well with the whole group and I hope to play a great match.
Dembélé “He’s a very talented player”.
How are you going to win this match tomorrow? What can you say about Khvicha Kvaratskhelia? What will your strategy be tomorrow?
We’re not going to talk about strategy here in the press conference. Kvara is a very good player. He’s adapted very, very well to the team. It’s not difficult to adapt here at PSG. He’s a very talented player, a very serious person who understands things quickly. As I’ve said before, tomorrow’s game is going to be very tense, and we’re going to have to control our emotions, especially in a Champions League final with all the excitement in the heads of the Parisian fans. Above all, we’re going to have to play our game.
Dembélé “No, maybe with Mbappe we’d be even stronger this season”.
Is the game easier without Mbappe?
No, maybe with Mbappe we’d be even stronger this season. We don’t know what would have happened. Mbappé had a dream in his career, which was to play for Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain went on its way. We wish him the best of luck and concentrate on ourselves and the season we wanted to have.
Dembélé: “I’ve always had his confidence”.
What influence has Luis Enrique had?
As I’ve said since I first met Luis Enrique. I’ve always had his confidence. In the number 9 position, which I’ve known from the start, I’m a professional, I adapt very well to that position and I try to help the team. The coach gives me a lot of freedom and that’s something I like a lot, so I try to create imbalance in the opposition. You have to be clever in this position, you can be from the back in front, from the back, you have to drive them a little crazy. You have to move around and it’s a position I know very well, I’ve adapted well.
