Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele talk Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and other Barca stars ahead of UCL clash.
Ousmane Dembele has remained at Barcelona and is content with life under Xavi Hernandez despite having a topsy-turvy year in terms of his future.
For the majority of the year, the 25-year-old appeared to be on the move. In fact, on June 30 his contract with the Catalan club expired. The French international returned to the Blaugrana, though, and signed a two-year contract ten days into free agency.
Dembele has continued to play in the same shape that he did in the second part of the previous season. And the French international is content with both his personal and professional circumstances.
Regarding his situation at the team, he said: “I’m extremely happy. There’s a great vibe in the locker room. I’m thrilled with the coach and all of his staff, and I’m now having fun playing football.”
“This year, this year and the months of last season, since Xavi arrived, since then I have experienced my best period at Barça,” he said when asked if he is in his prime as a Barcelona player.
Regarding our relationship with Xavi, I once said, “It’s a little like the relationship I had with Thomas Tuchel, the coach with whom I had the closest kinship up to this point. The relationship with Xavi is great; he has always been honest with me and has given me a lot of encouragement.
Regarding his commitment to Xavi’s tactical requirements: “Xavi wants both wingers open, that we play one on one, that we provide assists, and that we score goals. His perspective on the game is perfect for me and the other wingers.
Regarding interactions with Raphinha and Lewandowski, the speaker said, “Very well with both, Raphinha and Robert. Lewandowski is one of the best and has been for years, as I had seen when I saw him play for Bayern.
And I was quite familiar with Raphinha since he played for Rennes, my French team. I watched the games and saw that he was already succeeding well. Both of them are excellent and will be really helpful.
Regarding competition with Memphis, Ansu Fati, and co.: “I truly enjoy competition, and if we want to win, we need a very strong group. There are many very talented forwards, like Robert, Ansu, Raphinha, Ferran, and Memphis, and there is fierce competition for playing time because only the greatest will represent the team.
Regarding which of the recent additions has surprised him, he said: “Lewandowski aside, we already knew him very well, as well as Raphinha and Kessie. Franck is a really skilled player who has a lot of experience.
Regarding the club’s youthful members, “There are many and they are really good. Gavi will come for me if I mention Pedri. Gavi, Ansu, Eric, and Pedri are all outstanding performers.
“Pedri is a star athlete. One of the top players in the future could be him. In actuality, he is already. Eric is a boss. He will lead Barça in the future, I often tell him. The 18-year-old Gavi is incredibly talented. Pablo Torre and Ansu are both. Balde is heavy and swift.
Regarding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it was said that he wants to play and that the move was excellent for both of them and the club as well. It’s very bad; I’ll visit him in London. He has already assisted me both now and when I was a student at Dortmund. He also invited me to something after I helped him.
Messi and Iniesta are his footballing role models, he said.
The current players he likes to watch: “I love to watch Mahrez, Sadio Mané and Leroy Sané.”
On Barcelona’s prospects for triumph following a challenging 2021–2022: “We can, but we must demonstrate it on the playing field. The previous year was particularly challenging; numerous injuries occurred, and Leo Messi, the best player in the world, left.
“Laporta and Alemany have put a lot of effort into building a highly competitive group this year, and I think we’re going to win trophies,” said Laporta.
Regarding Barcelona’s chances in the Champions League, a great team like Madrid or Liverpool are always favorites, along with Barça. We need to get off to a solid start this time around, unlike last year when we lost 3-0 to Benfica and then 0-3 to Bayern.
Regarding Bayern Munich and Group C: “Yes, it’s a tough group, but we’re also a tough opponent for them. They will witness very good games thanks to this excellent group. And we’ll set out to defeat all of our opponents and all of our games. The team wants to defeat Bayern because they defeated us both the prior year and the year before that.
“People like to compare players a lot, but Mbappé is a terrific striker, very top, who scores many goals,” said Laporta in response to Laporta comparing him to Mbappé.
Regarding his joke regarding leading Barcelona: “It was a joke, it was a joke! With Busi and the other three, we have a solid captain in the locker room. The most crucial factor is that there is a great atmosphere, which is excellent for winning championships.
Regarding the negative coverage he received in the media, he said: “I don’t want to say much about whether it has been fair or not, if I have been attacked too much. I’m concentrating right now on doing well on the field. You can never please or satisfy everyone in life.
Regarding dietary and exercise modifications, he said: “I’ve been working closely with my physiotherapist and the club’s staff, who are excellent. I discovered that working outside of the pitch is crucial. Our diet is crucial. A dietician works with us at the club as well. We will get penalized even if we don’t eat here.
I’m not sure. He has a two-footed gait and a preferred position. I use my left foot to dribble but my right foot to shoot.
