Julien Stéphan, now manager of Queens Park Rangers (English Championship), who knew Désiré Doué at Rennes, spoke to L’Equipe about his remarkable resilience under pressure in big matches. He explained that the 20-year-old midfielder/forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team has an approach that makes all the difference.
Stéphane: “Désiré has great self-confidence, coupled with a positive energy.”
“With us, he was our best player at the San Siro against AC Milan (in the Europa League in February 2024) when he had just broken into the starting eleven. I was impressed. And I think that this approach is a combination of two aspects. Désiré has great self-confidence, coupled with a positive energy and great emotional stability. Furthermore, he has a maturity far above average.”
Doué has confidence in himself, which is essential for performing at the highest level. He also displays a certain composure in the face of adversity, which is quite impressive at his age. One element highlighted by Stéphan seems to truly make the difference: his positive approach to big moments.
There’s always pressure, but he refuses to let it weigh him down. The young PSG talent sees it primarily as an opportunity to fully enjoy a high-level football match and help his team win. It’s a great mentality to maintain, despite the inevitable obstacles in a career. Especially since Doué is likely to face increasing expectations given his impressive rise, which is clearly far from over.”
