Ousmane Dembélé responded in the best possible way. Traveling to Manchester City on Wednesday, during the second day of the league phase of the Champions League, the PSG striker participated in his team’s success (4-2) at the Etihad Stadium. A performance which comes as the 2025 Ballon d’Or has been the subject of numerous criticisms in recent weeks.
Scorer from the 15th minute, the Parisian also delivered an assist to Maghnes Akliouche in the 62nd minute. A performance that did not escape Édouard Cissé. The former PSG midfielder notably denounced the treatment reserved for the French international, believing that he did not benefit from the respect he deserves.
“I simply see that there is a certain cabal against Ousmane. I don’t think we respect him enough. He has the right to sometimes be less good, as was the case with the Blues. When there is a big match, he knows how to respond, the proof! And it was well managed by Luis Enrique”he declared in his debrief of the match for L’Équipe.
Ousmane Dembélé responds to criticism
For his part, Ousmane Dembélé did not miss the opportunity to respond to his detractors at the final whistle. Asked by
Canal+the Parisian striker first brushed aside the doubts surrounding his team: “We don’t really care that people doubted us. It’s October, it’s the second Champions League match and we’re staying focused. We know that the first part of the season, you have to be on target and then prepare for the second part of the season. »
The 2025 Ballon d’Or then assured that he had not sought to silence the critics, preferring to take the situation with humor. “Did I want to set the record straight? No not at all, there was the international break and then I went on vacation”he explained with a burst of laughter. Before concluding with a new sting full of irony: “Besides, I might ask for another vacation (smile). I’ve been criticized for 10 years so that’s not going to change eh. »
