On the sidelines of the fateful match against Manchester City, Ousmane Dembele was present at a press conference to answer questions from journalists. Part of the team, and surely the most experienced player, he will be expected in this clash of the Champions League phase.
Journalist – You missed the last two matches. How are you feeling and are you ready for this match?
I feel much better. I had a little flu, well a little one (smile), not a little one, I think. I had five/six days where I was a little down. And since Saturday, things have been better, I feel ready. I feel ready to help the team and I feel better.
Journalist – Ousmane, hello, Stéphane Bianchi from Le Parisien, to stay in the missed matches. The last time PSG faced an English club, you weren’t there, it was Arsenal. What had happened then?
A lot of things, after the coach said it at a press conference. I don’t want to come back to that, it’s a file that has been closed.
Journalist – Since the start of the season, we have seen a PSG which is very disciplined in the game, collectively. In the Champions League, it was not always enough. Tomorrow evening, do you think that the key is to maintain discipline, but perhaps to bring some extra madness to turn the match into what makes for great European evenings? Where we win over the public, where there is perhaps sometimes a little more imbalance, more risk-taking.
Of course, we will try to give our best tomorrow. We know it’s not going to be easy against Manchester City. But hey, with the public, with our weapons, we prepared well for this match too.
We know that this is a crucial match for us, to stay alive in the Champions League. In this match, you have to put a little madness. Also play a little on instinct. And also be disciplined. But here we are, we are going to give everything to be able to take the three points.
Afterwards, in the other Champions League matches, I think there were matches where we deserved to win, I think we deserve a little more points. But that’s how it is, that’s football.
Journalist – You are in a good phase in front of goal. And that’s often what we missed. You are not the only one in the Champions League. Is it the right time for this efficiency to return to the Champions League?
Yes, I feel good. These last few matches, I have been effective in front of goal. Afterwards, it’s like that. Sometimes it fits, sometimes it doesn’t. Tomorrow I will try to be focused. We know that we will have to score against Manchester City to simply win this match. I feel good and I will try to score tomorrow.
Journalist – You weren’t there because of the flu, but the coach decided to take several senior players out of action these last two matches. Do you feel any particular pressure because of this additional anticipation from the coach?
No, I don’t feel any particular pressure. I think Hakimi had a little hamstring problem, but it was nothing serious. And Marquinhos hasn’t played since the Super Cup (the champions’ trophy), I think, he came back there.
Now, we prepare for the match as usual, calmly. We will try to apply everything the coach asks us. We will try to simply win this match tomorrow.
Journalist – Can you describe to us what you like about your central position when you play in attack, up front, in false 9? And what do you like about playing as a winger? You alternate between the two, you are more often a winger. And then, you also had good matches last year in false 9 in the Champions League.
What I like [dans le poste] in false nine, you are quickly in front of the goal. I think you have one or two clear chances in a match.
And then, with the change of position, we change a lot in the match with Désiré [Doué]whether with Barcola or Lee Kang-In. So, we find ourselves all three in front of goal and frankly, in the number 9 position, I really like it, because I am in front of goal and I can score goals.
Journalist – You are a key player in this Parisian team. Has the confidence the coach placed in you on the pitch allowed you to take a step forward, particularly in terms of efficiency?
The day I signed here, especially just before I spoke with the coach, he gave me all his confidence. Whether it’s the coach, whether it’s the leaders, or even the whole team. I have great confidence in the coach.
He trusts me. I try to give my best for the club and for him too.
-Journalist – How do you view Manchester City? We came across a few supporters who told us that we are a bit like Poisse Saint-Germain because, as if by chance, just before facing them, they find their best level.
We know that Manchester City is a great team. Over the last seven years, I think they’ve won six Premier Leagues, right? I’m not sure. But we know that it is a great team, and we will have to be extremely concentrated because they have great players, a great scorer (Erling Haaland, editor’s note), good defenders and also they have a great coach. Afterwards, everything is possible in a match.
We will play our game, especially in front of our audience. We have great confidence in ourselves.
Journalist – A quick question about a speech yesterday by Paul Pogba who said that he was going to come back soon and that he was trying to return to a club that was going to play in the Champions League, you understand very well. Did you tell him a little bit about the Parisian project for a player like you who is gaining depth? It must be interesting to have Pogba behind you.
In any case, I hope Paul will return to the field. Afterwards, we know that Pogba is a great player. Afterwards, I’m not going to talk to him about the Parisian project. It’s the leaders who see this. But Pogba is a great player. I hope he will return to the French team very quickly.
Journalist – I have a question regarding preparation for these major meetings. Is there a preparation that is special? For example, specific video sessions? How does it work? Or is it a preparation that is completely classic compared to the rest of the ranks?
No, as I said, we prepare for the match as usual. We also have video sessions, whether against Manchester City or against AS Saint-Etienne. And we prepare our matches as usual with serenity and great concentration too.
Journalist – I would like to know, since you arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, is this match against City the most important one that you are going to play with this team?
Yes, I think it’s one of the most important ones too. That of Newcastle, also last year, where we could not lose. I think they are the two most important ones that I played with Paris Saint-Germain. Without also forgetting the importance of this match against FC Barcelona.
Journalist – This season, you are one of the fittest Parisians with Achraf Hakimi also on your side. Can you tell us about your relationship with Hakimi and your relationship on the right side?
My relationship with Achraf has been very good since day one. We got along very well. We don’t talk about anything and everything. Anyway, off the field and on the field, there is a lot of communication between him and me.
We understand each other very quickly. I know what he likes. When he goes deep, when he wants to go deep, it happens naturally.
Journalist – You took number 10 at Paris Saint-Germain. It’s a number that is quite symbolic. You are a player with a lot of experience. You are even world champion. What is your outlook and how do you help your young teammates as they approach this type of meeting?
We talk a lot about the situations that can happen in the match. Afterwards, I know that, on my side, with Ashraf [Hakimi]whether it is Warren [Zaire-Emery] or Fabian Ruiz, we get along very well. We don’t need to give too many instructions, unless there are changes in the match. Otherwise we try to be calm. I talk to them about a little bit of everything, that we will have to be very, very concentrated against a team like Manchester City, with the quality of the players they have. You need a minimum of concentration. And then, it’s the coach who does the work.
Journalist – You are close to breaking your record for goals in a season. Did you feel a mental trigger for yourself or did you work on it more in front of you?
No, no click. Afterwards, as I said at the start of the season, that this year I was going to score I think more goals. I project myself much more in front of the goal. I am also much calmer in front of goal. And there you have it, that leads me to score a few goals and I hope to continue.
Journalist – You are having one of your best seasons in terms of stats. We’re almost halfway through the season, a little more. 11 goals. About, I think, 5 assists. Sounds pretty good for your watch bet?
I take it as a joke. But here, I mainly try to help the team. To score goals, to make assists. This is the most important thing, after the watches, we’ll see that later.
I’m still a little far from the goals. I’ll have to score a few more goals. And make a few more assists. Like I said, the most important thing is that the team wins. Especially tomorrow, in a match like this. I would like to play the Champions League again in February.
