Doué: the key is the manager, not him, on versatility

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·8 April 2026

Doué: the key is the manager, not him, on versatility

Bernard Diomède, coach of France’s U19 team, was invited by L’Equipe to take part in a discussion about the best position for Désiré Doué, the 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Bleus midfielder/forward. He gave a clear answer about this true Swiss Army knife of a player.

“Where do I need him the most?”

“This question takes me back to our first meeting. I said to him: Désiré, before training you, I need to know what kind of player you are, what kind of man you are. And he answered me in two sentences: ‘I really like Neymar, and I play wherever the coach needs me to play.’ From that moment on, I understood very quickly that he could play in every position. The key for Désiré won’t be him, but the coach. He will have to answer this question: where do I need him the most? When I watch him, he makes me think of Youri (Djorkaeff) in that ability, through the middle, to be decisive and win matches for you. He is neither a 9 nor a 10, he is that free player, capable of making the difference.”

It’s an interesting answer, far from the idea that a player absolutely needs a “best position.” More importantly, the thinking can start the other way around: in which position do I need this player? When he is as complete as Doué, it is a great way to strengthen the team as a whole. PSG’s number 14 has the athletic, technical, and tactical qualities to adapt to many positions or situations.

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So he should not be boxed into one role, nor should the team be restricted by the idea that Doué absolutely has to play in one specific spot. There is room to adapt to his teammates, as well as to the opponent. As it happens, coach Luis Enrique likes to think that way. It remains to be seen how he will be used with the France national team, as well as under a future club manager. But for now, both he and PSG should make the most of all the options available.

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