Dembélé inspires Slot, Ekitike emerges as surprise package | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitiké (23 years old), Liverpool striker, acknowledged the influence of Ousmane Dembélé (28 years old) on his own level of play. Interviewed by Téléfoot, he explained that the pressing standards set by Dembélé last season at Paris Saint-Germain are now pushing coach Arne Slot to be very demanding with him at the club. A mark of respect — and pressure — that shows the Dembélé model goes beyond borders.

Ekitiké: "They're on my case at the club"

Last season, Ousmane Dembélé was one of the symbols of the Paris Saint-Germain team under Luis Enrique. Beyond his already impressive attacking stats, it was his off-the-ball work that left a mark. The French winger transformed his role: no longer an intermittent striker, but a leader in pressing.

His ability to harass opposing defenses, cut off the first passes, and trigger collective intensity made PSG suffocating in many matches, including in the Champions League. This consistency in effort forced opponents to adapt their game plans, unable to build calmly from the back.

Today, the impact is such that other clubs, like Arne Slot's Liverpool, are observing and adopting these working principles. In short, Dembélé's pressing, the result of Luis Enrique's method, has become a tactical reference that goes beyond Paris and influences all of Europe.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.