Ousmane Dembele is feeling ambitious heading into the crucial part of the season and fully intends to shine for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France.
Not only does the fast attacker finally feel fit after nasty injuries, but he also wants to be in the spotlight again. As he did last season when he helped PSG win the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
“I am even more determined to win another trophy with PSG,” he said on Monday, a day before the second leg of the Champions League against Chelsea. «It is also a World Cup year and I am extremely motivated. I know I have had some injury problems, but I have to show myself.»
Calf and hamstring injuries have seen Dembele miss 14 games and limp in others msdi.
But his brilliant solo goal in the 5-2 first leg win last Wednesday – when he ran from the halfway line – was more like the Dembele of last season and his best goal of his 35-goal career.
«I like to be on the ball a lot. I like to score a lot of runs, and you have to be 100% to play in this role. I want to score or assist in every game, and that hasn’t changed.»
Dembele is entering his prime at the age of 28 and is not shy about using his status to influence the team. After a dismal 3-1 defeat at Rennes last month, he chided his teammates in a post-match interview.
“I think we need to show more desire,” he said. «Because if we play on the field as individuals, it won’t work. We won’t win the trophies we want.»
Without naming names, he suggested some players put themselves first. “Paris Saint-Germain must come first, not individual players,” he said.
Dembélé’s comments prompted coach Luis Enrique to say that the team needed to maintain a united front. But an unrepentant Dembele stood by his comments on Monday.
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«I don’t regret it, that’s the only way PSG can win. It was a message for the whole team and I think it paid off,» Dembele said. «In some matches we could have passed on the player in a better position. But the problem was resolved quickly, there were no arguments or anything like that in the dressing room.»
Since dropping him from a Champions League match at Arsenal early last season for disciplinary reasons, Luis Enrique has become Dembele’s biggest fan.
“He is incredible to have as a player. He is able to change the way he plays,” said Luis Enrique. «As a fan it’s always fun to watch him when he has the ball.»
France fans will be hoping he does better at the World Cup: Dembele went off in the first half during the defeat to Argentina in the 2022 final.
Published on March 17, 2026
