Enrique, Xavi, Deschamps: Why Dembélé Is Indispensable to All His Coaches

Ousmane Dembélé has yet to score with PSG, and even during his time at Barcelona, his goal-scoring record was modest. Nonetheless, he has maintained the trust of his successive coaches. The Parisien explains why.

Dembélé has not yet opened his scoring account with PSG. Even during his stint at Barcelona, he didn’t score prolifically. However, Xavi was disappointed to see him leave, Luis Enrique consistently names him in the starting lineup, and in the French national team, Didier Deschamps continues to place his faith in him. « With Kylian Mbappé, Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Manuel Ugarte, Ousmane Dembélé is one of the first names that Luis Enrique jots down with certainty when composing his team, » as stated by Le Parisien.

A forward who doesn’t score might seem like an anomaly. Or is it? Dembélé’s contributions go beyond scoring goals. « He always creates numerical superiority, he’s capable of engaging three opponents, he opens up space, he never hesitates, he takes risks, he’s audacious. He might miss chances, but he has the right attitude. He can improve, yes, but I’m in love with his style. I have no concerns about him, » emphasized Luis Enrique this weekend.

Xavi shares a similar perspective. « He makes a difference; he’s like a dagger. I can see how teams struggle when he’s on the field. I see extraordinary qualities. For me, he’s one of the best in the world in his position, according to football standards. »

Dembélé, therefore, defies categorization and « provides a different dimension from other attackers, freeing up space for teammates, unsettling his direct opponent, and often the entire defense, » concludes Le Parisien.