Paris Saint-Germain ahead Ousmane Dembélé has stated {that a} potential Ballon d’Or award is firmly behind his thoughts as he prepares for Saturday’s Champions League last in opposition to Inter Milan.
The France worldwide has been a key determine for the Parisians throughout their run to the ultimate and has been one of many excellent gamers in Europe this season with 30 targets in all competitions, together with a run of 24 in 18 video games from December to March.
These performances have seen Dembélé emerge because the front-runner to win this 12 months’s Ballon d’Or.
However the 28-year-old stated that the possibility to win the last word private accolade takes second place to successful PSG’s first Champions League title.
“When you find yourself a PSG participant, what’s necessary is to take dwelling the silverware such because the Champions League,” he stated. “I’m targeted on the workforce, not particular person trophies. It [Ballon d’Or] is at the back of thoughts, however I need to deal with the workforce.
“Since January, we’ve got actually had a change of mindset and we need to proceed now and get the victory and we’re very excited concerning the recreation.
“Inter is a superb workforce that deserves to be within the last. They’re bodily, know how you can defend, how you can rise up entrance, so we’ve got a powerful opponent.
“I’ve ready effectively for this last. Since I used to be a child, I have been dreaming of enjoying on this recreation.
“We now have to stay focused on the sport, on the workforce, on myself. I hope we’ll be capable to produce a implausible efficiency.”
This season has seen a significant transformation for Dembélé. He had an underwhelming six-year spell at Barcelona that was adopted by three targets in 26 Ligue 1 video games for PSG final season.
“Dembélé has been among the finest gamers of the season, if not one of the best one. He scores, he passes, he fights, he defends, and that is the true mentality — that is a frontrunner,” PSG coach Luis Enrique stated Friday.
“An actual chief is the man who exhibits together with his instance the best way to go. It is so good for me to listen to Ousmane, to offer him confidence, to develop his qualities.”
Dembélé has helped fill the void left by the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Actual Madrid final summer time. Mbappé’s exit adopted these of the opposite two members of the membership’s as soon as celebrity ahead trio, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
With the trio departed, there was a larger deal with the collective.
“It is about being a workforce, not a gaggle of people,” PSG captain Marquinhos stated. “I am in love with this workforce. It is a delight to be a part of the squad.”
Success for PSG would make them the primary French champions of Europe since bitter rivals Marseille in 1993, and eventually reward years of giant funding from its Qatar Sports activities Investments, who purchased a majority stake within the membership in 2011.
The French champions’ solely earlier Champions League last got here in 2020, after they had been defeated by Bayern Munich.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
