France of football ignites for Ousmane Dembélé. Author of a stratospheric season with Paris Saint-Germain, crowned by a historic triumph in the Champions League where he was sparkling, the tricolor winger is the great favorite for the next Ballon d'Or. An almost unanimous popular and media momentum seems to be carrying it. Almost… because a voice, and not least, that of his own coach Didier Deschamps, continues to throw freezing on this enthusiasm. After declarations already elusive a few days ago, his last release at a press conference this Wednesday only confirms a form of discomfort, or even a dirty blow with regard to his player.
Support with lips, far from the fervor for Mbappé
Driven into his entrenchments by a direct question on the Del Dembélé-Yamal for the Ballon d'Or, Didier Deschamps ended up letting go, almost reluctantly: ” If you ask me, then obviously I say that Dembélé is favorable for the Ballon d'Or, and not Yamal. An assertion which, if it finally designates Dembélé, sounds hollow. The “if you ask me” and “obviously” more reflect an obligation to answer than a vibrant and spontaneous support. We are far, very far from the passion and the conviction that he had deployed a year earlier to defend the candidacy of Kylian Mbappé, which he would have “deserved to win”, describing his third place as “disappointment”. This two weights, two measures is striking and fuels the feeling of a unfair treatment to say the least.
La Gazzetta, the other names: Deschamps drowns fish
This shy new declaration follows his interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport
Where, asked about Dembélé, he had preferred to drown the fish, citing Mbappé, Yamal, and even, surprisingly, “Lewandowski or Rafinha” as potential candidates, while recalling that “The season is not over” and that “Journalists vote”. A way to dilute the evidence of the Dembélé season and especially not to place it in the only French favorite.
Ballon d'Or: Deschamps Doube Dembélé (because he no longer had the choice?)
Ranning, calculations or preferences for Mbappé? Questions
How to explain this reluctance, this blatant lack of enthusiasm from the national coach towards his most prominent player? Some still see it as the stigma of the little joke of Ousmane Dembélé during the UNFP trophies on his positioning, which could have irritated Deschamps. Others, more critical, evoke a possible will not to overshadow Kylian Mbappé, whose coach has always been a fervent supporter. The fact that Mbappé himself avoided the press conference on the eve of the France-Spain match so as not to approach the subject of the Ballon d'Or, sending Ibrahima Konaté in his place, reinforces this impression of discomfort within the tricolor clan.
Support that arrives late for Dembélé
This lack of explicit and passionate support from his coach is undeniably disappointing and can be perceived as a dirty blow by the admirers of Ousmane Dembélé. Fortunately for the PSG striker, his season speaks for him. His triumph in the Champions League and his individual performances of very high volley naturally place him in pole position for the Ballon d'Or. He will have the opportunity, on Thursday evening against Spain and Lamine Yamal, to prove once again on the ground that he deserves this distinction, displeases the calculations or reserves of his coach.
