Chelsea/PSG – Dembélé’s strong words: mentality, suffering and team spirit | OneFootball

Tuesday, during the second legs of the Round of 16 (PSG won the first leg 5-2) of the 2025-2026 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (kick-off at 9pm, broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of this match, Paris striker Ousmane Dembélé (28 years old) answered several questions at a press conference.

Dembélé: “It was a little phrase for the team and I think it paid off.”

You said that individualities should come second to the collective. Any regrets, especially about how it was interpreted?

No, not at all. That’s the only way PSG can win. It was a little phrase for the team and I think it paid off.

How do you approach the second leg?

Just like the first leg. We’ve said it to each other, the mentality is always to win. We can’t just sit back and defend. We’ll try to attack to get another victory.

Dembélé: “We won the Champions League but there were tough moments.”

Can the setting play a role in the match? Should you avoid being intimidated?

You have to stay extremely focused against this kind of team. It’s a big club that has triumphed in Europe. We have to stay focused, the mentality won’t change. We know there will be tough moments. We’ll have to suffer a bit. Like last year, we won the Champions League but there were tough moments.

Can the 5 goals from the first leg bring confidence?

Football is a matter of confidence. You need a lot of it at the highest level. We played a very good match, even though Chelsea is a very good team and it was tough. We stayed focused. The 4-2 helped us and we managed to get another one. We have to stay focused, it’s never over.

Dembélé: “I took it very calmly.”

Is there any reason that would make you not extend your contract with PSG?

No, there’s no reason. But as for the contract, throughout my career that’s between the club and my agent.

How did you mentally handle physical setbacks?

Very well, I know my body better now. I’ve had quite a few setbacks in my career. I took it very calmly. I spoke with the staff, the coach, they told me to stay relaxed. I haven’t had a very long injury, even though there was a relapse. I’m getting back-to-back games and I’m confident.

Dembélé: “I need to be at 100% to fulfill this role.”

Is it sometimes hard to tell the coach you’re not at your best?

Yes, I’ve always said I wanted to play, but that I wasn’t at 100%. It hasn’t always been easy, but my health is the most important thing. I needed to be at 100% to help, especially in a very demanding PSG. I need to press, ask for a lot of balls, drop back. I need to be at 100% to fulfill this role.

Last season was special for you, when you go through that, can it change a player? Do you want to get that feeling back?

Of course, I want to make a difference in every match. That drives me every game. It hasn’t changed me. I want even more to win the Champions League with PSG. It’s also a World Cup year. I’m very motivated. The important moments are coming, I’ll have to step up.

Dembélé: “You have to be professional and show it to the group.”

Are you even more of a leader this season? Are you more demanding?

As I’ve said before, I try to give advice. The coach tells all of us to be leaders, to be professional and set an example. I’m 28, I try to show both the younger and older players. You have to be professional and show it to the group.

Do you feel your teammates are less individualistic? Has the team changed?

No, it’s not that. There are matches where we could have passed to a better-placed teammate. There haven’t been any arguments. We’ve talked things out. It’s a smart group, we push each other and put PSG at the top.

Does the team know how to react in tough moments? Is it a winner’s mentality?

The coach used the word resilience. We always want to give 100% and win matches.

Dembélé: “The coach likes players who can play several positions”

There are new things in the team and it’s working, is it the desire to be unpredictable?

Yes, there are position changes. Not all players have fixed positions. The coach likes players who can play several positions, like Bradley Barcola as a number 9. We’ve also tried to mark some very good players, especially with João Neves.

In this competition, is it important to know how to suffer?

You have to suffer in this competition. Every winner has had to do it. There are quality players and teams. We did it last season, even though at times we played very well. This competition isn’t easy, not at all.

Dembélé: “We’re not going to defend a score, we’re going to play our football.”

Was Aston Villa a good lesson for tomorrow?

We have a 3-goal lead, but the mentality doesn’t change. We want to win here, we’re not going to defend a score, we’re going to play our football.

Could resting this weekend be crucial?

I don’t know if it changes anything. The Chelsea team will be very motivated. We were able to rest and prepare for this match. Whether we play at the weekend or not, our mentality doesn’t change. We came here to win.

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