Julien Stéphan, former coach at Stade Rennais, spoke to L’Equipe about the recent form of Ousmane Dembélé, the 27-year-old striker for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team who played alongside Stéphan at Rennes.
Stéphan “Yes, I think Ousmane has reached full maturity”
“Are we finally seeing the best of Dembélé?
Yes, I think Ousmane has reached full maturity. He’s become PSG’s attacking leader, the number 1, the one who takes on all the responsibilities inherent in a match player. He combines balance and statistics, and his influence on the team is unparalleled.
He’s a leader, a guide. Even in his attitude, I find him very aggressive, committed to everything he does. At Brest, more than his three goals, it was his 25-meter sprint back in the first half that made the biggest impression on me. His irreproachable behaviour sends out wonderful signals to the fans, the staff and the team.
Stéphan “Ousmane’s game has always been incredibly loose”
Any explanation for this transformation?
He’s full of confidence and it shows. Ousmane’s game has always been incredibly loose. Maybe he was losing it a little in front of goal, because there was less confidence, but I think, above all, that he’s got better management of his emotions.”
Clearly, something has changed with Dembélé. He’s more decisive, but above all, he’s showing that he wants to play faster and more accurately. He’s no longer just the creator, he’s now the finisher. Consistency has never been his strong point, but at 27 years of age, he may have reached that plateau that no-one saw coming.
Confidence plays a big part, and the “sometimes” distant relationship with Luis Enrique also pushes him to be better. Competition and the needs of the team are all factors that leave room for Dembélé to be one of the team’s leaders. At just 27, he’s one of the oldest players on the team, and above all, he understands Luis Enrique’s soccer language perfectly. We’ll judge him at the end of the season, but if he continues like this, PSG can smile.
