Ousmane Dembele talks Barcelona stint, Messi, Yamal, Ballon d’Or, Luis Enrique | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembele is having the time of his life at the moment. The Frenchman is coming on the back of a stellar campaign that saw him help PSG secure the elusive UEFA Champions League and the treble.

Dembele is also one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year, having emerged as PSG’s main difference-maker in attack.

Dembele reflects on his time at Barcelona

In a recent interview with France Football (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Dembele pointed out how a changing mentality and more professionalism are the main drivers behind his performances at PSG.

Looking back at his time at Barcelona, the Frenchman said, “I’m a little more professional now. I was before, but now I’m even more so. Even on my rest days, I like to go to the training centre, recover, and work with the physiotherapists.”

Dembele admitted that he used to slack off a bit on his off days at Barcelona, but that has changed ever since he joined PSG.

“Before, I would go home, play NBA 2K, and watch TV. I was younger, too, which is normal. But, in the end, you pay a high price for it, and I saw that especially in Barcelona,” he said.

Dembele added that he knows his body much better than he used to at Barcelona.

“I played there from the age of 20 to 26, and I had a lot of physical problems. I learned a lot. Now I know my body much better, and that’s why I get injured less often,” he said.

Even though much of his learning appears to have come at PSG, Dembele still has immense respect for Barcelona, notably refusing to badmouth the club after PSG’s win in the Champions League final.

Dembele on Messi and Luis Enrique

The former Borussia Dortmund superstar went on to talk about Luis Enrique, who had a major role behind his improved performances at PSG.

“With a coach like him, you know that if you don’t defend, you’ll be on the bench. For me, a striker shouldn’t cheat; he should be working hard all the time, both in attack and defence,” he said.

Will Dembele win the Ballon d’Or this year? (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

“Thanks to that, PSG became European champions. We all defended, we all attacked. Luis Enrique created a strong group, where no one is above the team,” he added

While PSG indeed defended well, it was Dembele’s attacking supremacy that helped PSG win the treble.

The attacker notably scored 33 goals in all competitions while racking up 15 assists in just 49 matches – making him the biggest rival of Lamine Yamal going into the Ballon d’Or gala this year.

Talking about Lamine Yamal, the forward heaped praise on the Barcelona sensation, stating, “Lamine was already being talked about at Barcelona from a very young age.“

“When he arrived at the first team, we understood he was exceptional. In training, he dribbled, assisted, and scored. He took on a whole new dimension,” he added.

Regarding the Ballon d’Or race, Dembele said:  “It’s hard to say. But winning the Ballon d’Or as a footballer is obviously the holy grail on an individual level. It’s something you dream about as a kid.

“I remember watching Telefoot as players appeared to receive it. It was incredible. The object alone, the ball, is exceptional.”

Continuing, he added: “I hope to be among the thirty nominees, for starters. I’ve had difficult years with injuries and weak performances as well. This season I think I’ve been consistent, so we’ll see what happens.

“It would be exceptional to have my name on the list. And being one of the favourites is a great victory, although I hope to win it one day.”

Dembele, meanwhile, also talked about the influence Lionel Messi has had on his game.

“I grew up watching Barcelona, and of course, Lionel Messi is the greatest for me. He is a player who inspires me, unique. I am so happy and proud that I played with him,” he concluded.