The victory of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League has changed many individual hierarchies. For Ousmane Dembélé, it is even a turn in his career: rarely as efficient, French has established himself as one of the major actors in the European PSG journey, combining assists, lightning of genius and leadership. Having become a pillar of Luis Enrique, he finds himself today propelled among the favorites for the Ballon d'Or, a status whose scope he measures … while responding with a disarming frankness.
Questioned by France Football about his personal ambitions and the pressure that weighs on the favorites, Dembélé surprised by his humility and his decline. To those who will decide on the next Ballon d'Or, he sent a message against the current of the expected speeches: “If you like Ousmane Dembélé, that's good, if you don't like him, life continues.” We will see. »» An appeal to freedom of choice, without calculation or bitterness, which contrasts with the usual feverishness of candidates. For the PSG winger, being named among the thirty best is already
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Dembélé refuses to make the Ballon d'Or an obsession. For him, the collectively completed season remains the most beautiful awards. He underlines the joy of raising the Champions League, the emotion shared with his teammates and the support of an entire institution. In his eyes, the merit goes above all to the team, the club, the staff and the supporters. But he does not hide that being among the nominees and being recognized for his influence on the field constitutes immense pride, synonymous with Renaissance.
Dembélé, a favorite which refuses the pressure
Throughout the interview, Dembélé returns to its evolution. More rigorous in the management of his body, more altruistic on the ground, he turned into a technical and mental leader. He says he was inspired by the greatest, starting with Messi and Kobe Bryant, while emphasizing the collective dimension of his sport. Now a framework for PSG and the Blues, it displays a state of mind turned towards the group and the transmission to young talents.
If the current dynamics Place Dembélé among the contenders for the Ballon d'Or, the main interested party prefers to keep their feet on the ground. He says he is happy to live this period, without excessive pressure. For him, life is not just an individual reward. But the simple fact of being acclaimed, to embody a new generation of winners and to have found the full measure of its talent is already worth all the trophies.
