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Ousmane Dembélé delivered a great performance on Tuesday at Montjuic, for PSG’s qualification against Barça in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The former Barcelona player, omnipresent and highly impactful, carried the Parisians in line with their performances in recent weeks.

It was perhaps written that he should take a little revenge in front of an audience that has not often done him any favors. In any case, Ousmane Dembélé played a game like a boss to overthrow Barça at Montjuic on Tuesday (4-1), in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and qualify PSG for the last four of the competition. Upon his arrival last summer, the French striker quickly made himself indispensable in the Parisian ranks, both through his commitment and brilliance on the pitch and in the dressing room, where he is a true leader.

>> All information and reactions after Barça-PSG

On July 28, RMC Sport exclusively revealed the upcoming arrival of the 2018 World Champion to the Parisian squad, following the payment of his €50 million release clause. A signing was made official on August 12 by the Parisian club. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has already announced the color: “He will be an important and committed player for our club.” The following months proved the manager right.

A little revenge and a smile to answer the insults of the Catalan public

The draw had reserved a reunion between the striker of the French team and his former club. A table that gave rise to discussions between Ousmane Dembélé and some of his ex-Catalan teammates with whom he is close, especially Gavi, a leader of the squad but victim of a torn cruciate ligament at the start of the season. But there was no question of having misgivings: the Frenchman had only one obsession, to qualify for Paris.

A sense of revenge in the air? In any case, the world champion was keen to prove to those who had not believed in him in Barcelona that they had been wrong. Especially to the supporters, who didn’t give him a gift. In the first leg, he celebrated his goal vigorously, all smiles, without hiding his satisfaction. He showed this joy again when he returned.

Some Barcelona fans did not appreciate it, but Dembélé did not share in the provocation. Rather, in the desire to celebrate a moment of happiness. There were whistles on Tuesday evening in Montjuic. “I’ve already experienced it in 2021 to be whistled here in Barcelona. It’s not something that affects my performance. I’m not going to change my game for whistles. I stayed focused, I “I gave everything to score here, get a penalty… I’m happy with my performance,” commented the player after the match.

He maintains good relations with his former teammates and Xavi

Attention therefore to the opposition supporters, not to his former dressing-room mates. No one criticized him for his first leg celebration. As proof is his long discussion in the corridors with Pedri and Joao Cancelo, the three men replayed the match by exchanging impressions.

His relationship with Xavi was never affected. The two men are still on very good terms and the technician would have loved to keep him last summer. “He is sharp. I see him happy. He is lethal. He is in good condition. He is one of the best in his position in the world. I am very happy for him. He turned things around and that is not all.” It is not easy in Barcelona, ​​I believe a lot, a lot in him Today his game is extraordinary”, summed up Xavi in ​​January 2023. Who often praised his unique profile.

After the defeat in the first leg, Ousmane Dembélé was one of the first to remobilize his PSG teammates: his confidence was not damaged despite this unfavorable result. Nor was it when Barça opened the scoring on Tuesday night in the return leg. The Frenchman, very good on the pitch, has taken on a leadership role that has suited him well since the start of the season, speaking especially to the youngest, but not only.

Now decisive, in the game and the statistics

Neymar criticized his performance? Ousmane Dembélé smiles and responds on the pitch by being decisive once again, with two goals in the final stages of the Champions League… close to that of Neymar in six years in Paris. The former Rennais was also named man of the match. Privately, however, he believes that he has had better games this season without being praised. But he knows the importance of being decisive in big meetings and the constant waiting around him from a statistical point of view.

At the club, we believe he has the talent to embody the ambitions of PSG… although the player continues to insist on the collective, led by Luis Enrique who has made it an indisputable leader. Ousmane Dembélé wants to take Paris to a historic crowning in the Champions League. He will then lead the French team, with the EC next June. What should one think about, in the medium term, about individual trophies in addition to collective titles? His influence in the game, his statistics in terms of assists can allow him to dream. Everyone who has been around him hails him as a true phenomenon, both in training and in battle.

After the roller coaster of Barcelona, ​​calm down in Paris

At FC Barcelona, ​​whoever arrived in the wake of Neymar’s crushing departure had a mixed experience. If there were highs, with an undeniable impact when he walked the pitch, there were also lows due to physical problems that significantly reduced his Catalan playing time. Ousmane Dembélé has not always felt very supported by anyone at the club, who sometimes gave him the impression that he was not decisive.

Worshiped by Al-Khelaïfi and Campos

Enough to make him want to travel elsewhere. His Barcelona contract included a release clause reduced to €50 million until July 31: an amount that, given his talent and CV, allowed him to go wherever he wanted. And what he wanted was to sign for PSG. The Parisian club had called for him for a long time, at the behest of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, a fan of the player. The Qatari leader played a key role in getting him signed and convincing him to come to Paris last summer, spending a lot of time on the file personally. Privately, Luis Campos is full of praise for a player he describes as special. With the support of the club and its partners, PSG’s sports advisor sees it going very high. What should one think about in the medium term about individual trophies in addition to collective titles? Some at the club believe he is capable of taking the Ballon d’Or podium in the near future.

At the club we admire his mental strength and ability to bounce back despite all the abuse he suffered. On Tuesday evening, PSG also sent a letter to UEFA to condemn the racist actions and chants of certain Barca fans towards Dembélé. The ambidextrous winger had a burning desire to play for Paris, who seized the opportunity. The next key meeting will give him another opportunity to prove that he is in very good shape. And it will be against his other former club, Borussia Dortmund