Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé on Ballon d'Or and the CL | OneFootball

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, 25- and 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forwards, gave an interview together to BBC Sport. In this interview, which also includes an individual second part, the Georgian and French internationals open up about the Ballon d’Or, their progress at PSG, their teammates, and coach Luis Enrique.

Dembélé: “Good thing we didn’t let him go to the Premier League”

To Dembélé: do you remember your first memory of Kvaratskhelia in training?

It was cold (laughs). It was in January, I don’t really remember, I was too cold (laughs).

To Kvaratskhelia: your first memory of Dembélé?

When I was in Naples, he followed me on Instagram, and I thought he had pressed it by mistake (laughs). When I arrived, I asked him about it. He told me he watched the matches and had shown his friends that I was following him. Now we’re friends. He’s a guy who’s always laughing, always positive.

What makes Kvaratskhelia special?

His quality, he showed it in Naples and at PSG. The way he attacks, defends, helps the whole team. PSG made a very good signing—good thing we didn’t let him go to the Premier League (laughs). That’s really the PSG mentality, the team mentality. He’s a very important player for us. On top of that, he’s only 25, he still has some great years ahead of him.

Kvaratskhelia: “He’s the most talented player I’ve ever seen.”

What makes Dembélé special as a player?

His qualities, the way he plays with both feet, his acceleration, his relationship with the ball. He’s the most talented player I’ve ever seen.

To Dembélé: playing together, how would you describe it?

Electric. Every time he gets the ball, something can happen. Every time, he goes one-on-one, takes on the defender, and he has shown all his quality. Even more so in the Champions League, he was exceptional. That’s why he was named best player. He’s a player who can help us defensively and offensively, he scores goals and provides assists. He’s made for PSG.

What is it like playing with Ousmane?

I think we understand each other very well. I can think of the assist against Bayern Munich—when I saw him, I knew where he would be. It’s easy to understand him, because he understands football. You just have to make the run and he will deliver the ball exactly right. It’s very easy.

Dembélé: “Can we cut it in half?”

Ousmane, who is going to win the Ballon d’Or?

Him. Honestly, he deserves it. Like I said, his season was exceptional. As they say, he was a joy to watch.

Khvicha, who deserves the Ballon d’Or?

Ousmane, of course. Because he is an exceptional player, the way he leads the team is important. What he gives the team is essential. His season was incredible. It’s the same as when he won it.

(Dembélé) Can we cut it in half? (laughs).

Kvaratskhelia answers on his own:

Khvicha, what was it like growing up in Georgia?

I can say that everything was about football. Right after school, we played all the time. Sometimes, we skipped class (laughs).

Football was the center of your life?

Yes, but not only for me. Football is what kids in Georgia love most.

Kvaratskhelia: “I always said my father was the best, better than Messi or Ronaldo”

When was your first time at a club?

I remember, yes, because before that I only played in the street. My father was playing and people told him it would be good for me to join a club. I started in a small club. After that, I joined an academy. When I was 12, I signed my first contract.

What role did your father play?

He was my idol at first. I couldn’t look things up on the internet (smile). We had videos of my father and I watched them. I always said my father was the best, better than Messi or Ronaldo. After that, I realized how far ahead they are (laughs). But my father was a very good player.

Did he give you advice?

After a match, he never talked to me about mistakes. Because he wanted me to learn from my mistakes. He told me to rest well, positive things.

Kvaratskhelia: “I told my agent and my father not to speak to other clubs.”

Have you always been a winger?

In one match, I played at right-back. I got the ball, dribbled past 6 players, ended up one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and missed. After that, I was always a winger.

You never wanted another position?

I’ve always been a left or right winger, sometimes a number 10. But mainly I’m a left winger.

Two key moments in your career: the transfer to Naples, then the one to PSG:

I always wanted to play at the highest level in Europe. It’s very good to see what you can achieve. When I was in Russia, my dream was to join a big team in Europe. When I signed for Naples, I had the feeling that I could do it, show that I deserved it.

PSG was another step forward, it’s one of the best clubs in history. When they spoke to me about the project, about how they had been following me, I told my agent and my father not to speak to other clubs. I knew I could succeed.

Kvaratskhelia: “Being with him means learning every day.”

What has Luis Enrique brought you?

I’ve learned a lot of things, maybe I can be a coach already now (smile). Being with him means learning every day. Mentally, tactically, psychologically, physically, he gives every player a lesson. You just have to listen and do what he says while giving your maximum.

What do you think of your journey?

I thought it would be impossible for me. Playing for the national team seemed very far away. It’s the same for all kids. But when you move forward, everything seems clearer.

Kvaratskhelia: “This team has the desire to win everything.”

What would winning the Ballon d’Or change?

It’s hard for big countries to understand what it means for small countries. It feels too far away, impossible for us. I’m very proud to be one of the candidates alongside these extraordinary players. I would be the happiest man. I want to make my family and my country proud.

Can you win a third Champions League in a row?

Anything is possible. When I arrived, it was hard to understand that we could win it once, but we did it. Then it was hard to think about a second, but we did it. Anything is possible in football if you’re hungry. I think this team has the desire to win everything. I think we can do it.

Dembélé answers on his own:

What memories do you have of the Ballon d’Or evening?

It was exceptional. All my loved ones were there, the people from Evreux whom we invited.

Dembélé: “That’s what people will remember in 20 years.”

What makes you proudest: being Ballon d’Or or making the team better?

Winning an individual trophy like the Ballon d’Or is exceptional, but the most important thing when I signed for PSG was to win the Champions League. We’ve won 2 and we want to keep winning. That’s what matters most, the memories you leave with the supporters, with the people in Paris. That’s really a victory, and so are the moments with my teammates.

When we come back into Paris and see that everything is closed because we’re going to present the Champions League trophy, that’s what people will remember in 20 years.

Does winning the Ballon d’Or change anything? Have you changed?

When you win that kind of trophy, a lot of things change. But I try to always stay the same. There are higher expectations, a bit of pressure. You feel it. You’ve won this exceptional title. But as soon as I step onto the pitch, I don’t change the way I play or the way I see things. That’s the only way I can shine and help the team.

Dembélé: “Over the years, I’ve looked for efficiency.”

Do you try to play like little Ousmane, or do you have to put carefree football aside?

I keep a bit of it, I know I still have it, to enjoy myself. But above all I wanted to be efficient, and it’s worked well for me.

Were you less focused on efficiency before?

Yes, when I was younger, I wanted to do nutmegs, cut inside, you hear the crowd, it’s normal (smile). After that, over the years, I looked for efficiency. I also played with the best, like Messi at Barcelona—everything he did was about efficiency.

How do you stay at the top?

All this success is also thanks to my teammates. They help me, put me in great conditions. It’s an individual trophy, but the team helps a lot.

What would it mean to win it a second time in a row?

When you’ve won it the first time, you don’t want people to say it was luck. There’s the desire to still be at the top. There’s pride, exceptional moments. We’ll see.

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