Dembélé reveals why he plays through the middle for PSG

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·28 settembre 2025

Dembélé reveals why he plays through the middle for PSG

Ousmane Dembélé, a 28-year-old forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the French National Team, has had an exceptional season both individually and collectively. Enough to win team trophies, as well as the 2025 Ballon d’Or. This notably involved a switch to a central position in almost every match, even though he was better known as a winger. In an interview with L’Equipe, the Parisian number 10 explained his role.

Dembélé: "Luis Enrique gives me a lot of freedom."

"Do you think about your game differently in this more central position? Of course. It's really not the same position between being a winger stuck to the line and a free electron, they say false 9, but it's a free electron. Luis Enrique gives me a lot of freedom. I need it. I started like that at Rennes. Rolland Courbis gave me a lot of freedom, told me to go everywhere. I really like this position. After, I can play as a winger, but in this position, I will try more to bring chaos to the defenses, make decisive passes... Even if I was also asked to score. It's not the same thing. So, what have you changed in your way of moving, anticipating the movements of your teammates and opponents? As a free electron, false 9, you're much more in the box, with fewer runs to make than on the side. The wingers, the full-backs, the midfielders look for you much more in the box. You're the 9, you have to score goals. This season, my teammates have sought me out a lot. I'm much more on the lookout than before when they have the ball. For me, it's a lot about positioning, between the lines, in the box. As a 9, if you manage to position yourself well, you'll score about fifteen goals, easily."

Dembélé: "Go into the free space."

What work have you done to adapt to this repositioning? It's with the teammates, with the coach who also gives me some advice. I try to go into the free space, behind the defender, to stand out. It's a position I know, that I really like, it's very tactical. I prefer being a free electron than on the side, even if that doesn't stop me from going there. We switch a lot. Our attackers are practically all trained wingers."

The key word is clear: freedom. Which can be very enjoyable for a forward, but also requires a great understanding of the game and the ability to adapt to various situations. It's up to Dembélé to know where to go, how to ask for the ball, and how to exploit it afterward. This also involves his connection with his teammates and the advice of coach Luis Enrique.

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The 2025 Ballon d’Or highlights that there is a lot of switching in Paris. When done well, it's effective because it's hard for defenses to follow. But it requires a lot of work to avoid stepping on each other's toes and to maintain good coordination. Of course, Dembélé's talent must be added to this tactical work.

We see that his finishing has improved, especially with less effort needed before reaching the goal. Also, probably, thanks to more confidence. The fact that he is comfortable with both feet and in dribbling makes him even more elusive. And it is clear today, he prefers this role to that of a winger. Could this lead to a reflection in the French National Team?

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