He had things to say. Unlike the three other French players who have already attended a press conference since arriving in Germany (Upamecano, Coman, Mendy), Ousmane Dembélé did not give up this Thursday when discussing the next legislative elections. For a good quarter of an hour, he played the game of questions and answers at a press conference, calling on the French to vote on June 30 and July 7. A pleasant moment which also gave rise to some heartfelt words for his friend Kylian Mbappé, recent defector from PSG to Real Madrid.
How are you feeling after suffering from a virus last week?
OUSMANE DEMBELE. It’s better, my throat was a little sore. I was the first to get the ball rolling, let’s say, but things are getting better, the whole team too, apart from Kingsley (Coman) who is a little ill. I think it will be better in two days.
This season you have escaped injuries. For what ?
I hope it will continue already (smile). I haven’t changed anything, it’s first and foremost the consequence of good preparation with the PSG staff. I have also been spared several times by Luis Enrique in recent months. I was in pretty good shape, which helped me stay fit all season.
Can Antoine Griezmann’s positioning impact your role on the pitch?
It doesn’t change. Antoine makes a lot of effort to help us. I still have N’Golo Kanté who comes to help me. Frankly, it doesn’t change much, we try to be much more compact in the 4-4-2. We know the system a little too, we just need to fine-tune it.
Do you feel like you have a special role within the group because of your status?
This is my third official competition, it’s now been 7 years (Editor’s note: 8 years exactly) that I’ve been here. I have a little experience, I’m one of the elders. As I say every time, there is a good atmosphere in this team. The first match against Austria will be difficult, we will have to get into the competition straight away.
“Since he was little, Kylian has had Real Madrid posters in his room”
What is different between PSG’s Kylian Mbappé and the one in the selection?
For me it’s always the same. He always has a smile, I talk to him all the time, every minute, every second. He has always been focused with PSG, we were in the semi-finals of the Champions League, won the three titles in France. It’s been 24 years since the French team won this Euro, it’s starting to mean a lot. Kylian is focused on making his team win and helping them go all the way.
How has your relationship evolved with Kylian Mbappé over all these years?
Nothing has changed since we’ve known each other. We have always had a good relationship, he knows my family, I know his. Real Madrid? There was no reluctance on my part. Since he was little, he’s had Real Madrid posters in his room, it didn’t shock me that he signed there.
How has he evolved as captain?
He is a leader, he speaks up, when things are not going well he says so. He’s not going to hide. He always tries to put the group in good conditions. He’s a very good captain, I think, him, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud also among the veterans. He is a leader of men.
Do you want to position yourself on the rise of the far right in France and the approaching elections?
It’s not that I don’t want to take a position, but given the situation in France I think that the alarm bells have been sounded. I think we need to mobilize to vote. I looked at the 1 p.m. news and saw that one in two French people did not vote. I repeat, we must mobilize to vote. The legislative elections are coming, the FFF is going to put something in place so that we can vote by proxy.
Has Germany, through your time at Dortmund, changed your game?
A little, I think. The way I played in Rennes and the way I played in Dortmund are not the same. Here in Germany, there was a new playing system, I played 5-3-2 while in Rennes we played 4-2-3-1. I learned a lot from a coach that I really like, Thomas Tuchel. I also had people around like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who I really appreciate.
How do you experience competition with Coman and even Kolo Muani?
Alright. There is competition everywhere in the French team. With Kingsley and Randal, we push ourselves to raise our level. If you have a bad match, behind you you know that things are growing too. It’s very good for the team.
Has Didier Deschamps evolved in his approach over the years?
He has evolved a lot, he gives us more freedom, he trusts us more. He is someone who loves his players a lot, who talks a lot with them. When a player sees that, he wants to give everything for the coach.
