The image marked the spirits. After the 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa, which still allowed the PSG to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League, Ousmane Dembélé refused his trophy as a man of the match. An unexpected gesture, but of a great symbolism: the Parisian winger, although designated best player in the meeting, clearly showed that, for him, this trophy had no meaning.
And it was not surprising that he said that the real star of the evening was his teammate, Gianluigi Donnarumma. At first glance, the image of Dembélé refusing an individual trophy could be interpreted as a simple gesture of modesty. But to look more closely, it is much more than that. French has shown humility and a collective spirit which testify to a real questioning of the importance of personal distinctions in such a competitive context. “It was Gigi who was the man of the match”, explained Dembélé at the microphone of Sky Sport, a declaration which speaks volumes about the mentality of the player. “He saved us with incredible stops, he was decisive at every important moment.”
It must be said that PSG was not at its best level at Villa Park. In the second half, the team suffered. The attack was not so sharp, and the defense has flicked in the face of villa pressure. But it is Donnarumma, with decisive reflex stops, especially in the face of powerful and dangerous strikes, which allowed PSG not to sink. He proved that, even in adversity, he remained one of the best guards in the world. “Gigi is one of the best guards in the world, he has been playing at the highest level for many years”added Dembélé.
“Today, he allowed us to qualify for the next round. He is a real leader on and off the field.” It is no coincidence that Dembélé insists on the role of Donnarumma. You should know that in these kinds of decisive matches, the guards play a crucial role. If they fail to maintain their team alive during key moments, all dynamics can collapse. Dembélé seems to have understood this more than any other player on the field that evening. He experienced the team meeting, and this team, for him, was saved by the calm and the reflexes of his goalkeeper. P
In spite of this defeat, Dembélé wanted to underline the transformation that takes place within PSG. Far from focusing on the individual, he highlights the strength of a group who knows that the real objective remains qualification, at all costs. PSG is a collective in search of balance, and each victory, even painful, makes this group grow. “The mentality has changed”, explains Dembélé. “Today, everyone wants to attack, defend, and score decisive goals. Internal competition is stronger than ever, and that pushes each of us to give us the best.” This message from Dembélé cannot be ignored. While the trophy presentation could have been perceived as a simple gesture of modesty, it is actually an act of subtle leadership. Dembélé, through this refusal, sent a strong signal to its teammates: the ego has no place in this team. Individual distinctions must pass after the common objective. And this objective, at this precise moment, was the qualification in the semi-finals. It is also important to highlight the impact of this change of mentality in the Parisian locker room.
If PSG really wants to target high, this mentality of solidarity, sharing and mutual recognition must become the norm. Dembélé, who has taken a large part in the reconquest of the confidence of the supporters and his teammates, proves to what extent this collective is now the absolute priority. Donnarumma, of course, did not steal this attention. The goalkeeper, after his exceptional performance, himself explained that he preferred that this trophy was attributed to the whole team. This testifies to mutual respect between the players, each aware that each victory, each progress, is the result of collective work.
But Dembélé, with his gesture, has shown that recognition should not be an individual issue, but a reward for those who made the difference in crucial moments. This symbolic gesture of Dembélé could well mark a turning point in the culture of PSG. The club has often been criticized for its lack of cohesion and solidarity. But through this difficult match, and especially this trophy refusal scene, it is obvious that something bigger is being built. If this collective mentality is more deeply anchored at PSG, then the quest for the Champions League could finally take another dimension. But for that, we will have to continue to feed this union and this team spirit, with gestures like that of Dembélé, which recall that in this sport, nothing is stronger than the desire to succeed together.
