STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON – Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé delivered a resolute message ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Chelsea, stating emphatically, “It’s not finished yet.” Despite a commanding 5-2 victory in the first leg, Dembélé stressed the importance of maintaining focus and attacking intent when PSG travels to Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old spoke to the media on Monday, outlining the team’s mindset and addressing recent questions surrounding his fitness and the collective spirit within the PSG squad. The match, scheduled for 9:00 PM local time (8:00 PM GMT/3:00 PM EST), presents a significant opportunity for PSG to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. For fans following from the United States, the game will be available on Paramount+.
From Individual Concerns to Collective Focus
Dembélé’s comments arrive after a period of scrutiny following PSG’s surprising 3-1 defeat to Rennes in Ligue 1 on February 13th. After that match, Dembélé publicly called for a shift in mentality, urging his teammates to prioritize the collective excellent over individual ambition. He clarified on Monday that he doesn’t regret those remarks, believing they have already yielded positive results.
“I don’t regret it at all,” Dembélé stated. “As I said, that’s the only way PSG can win. It was a small phrase for the whole team and I think it has borne fruit.” He explained that the issue wasn’t about individual players being selfish, but rather a matter of making the optimal pass and recognizing the best-positioned teammate. “It’s not a question of individualism, I think we could have made the pass to the player in the best position on certain matches. But there was no dispute, nothing at all, it’s an intelligent group. We all push each other up for the good of PSG.”
Attacking Intent at Stamford Bridge
With a comfortable three-goal advantage from the first leg, the question arose about whether PSG would adopt a more cautious approach at Stamford Bridge. Dembélé was unequivocal in his response: PSG will continue to attack.
“Our mentality is always to win matches, People can’t start one by trying to hold the score,” he said. “We’re going to try to attack again. Our mentality hasn’t changed, we’re not going to stay in our 15 or 20 last meters to defend a score. We’re going to play our game.”
He acknowledged the challenge posed by Chelsea, a historically strong European club, and the potential for a hostile atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. “Chelsea is a quality team, a great club that has triumphed in Europe in the past. We will have to remain particularly focused in this match. We come here to win, keeping in mind that there will be tricky moments, where we will suffer, but it was like last season. In the Champions League, you have to realize how to suffer, it’s not an effortless competition.”
Fitness and Leadership
Dembélé too addressed concerns about his recent fitness, having recently returned from a calf injury that kept him sidelined for three weeks. He affirmed that he feels fully fit and confident, having worked closely with the coaching staff to manage his return to action. “Very well, I took this injury (to a calf) serenely, I also spoke with the coach, the staff, they told me to stay calm about it. I sense good today, I am fully confident.”
The forward acknowledged the importance of maintaining his physical condition, given the demands of his role – pressing, receiving the ball frequently, and making runs. He emphasized the need for careful management to ensure he remains at 100%.
“In my discussions with the coach, I tell him that I want to play. It’s not always easy, but my health is more key. I have to be at 100%, especially in this team where they ask me to press, to touch a lot of balls, to come back. I have to be in full possession of my means.”
Dembélé also spoke about his growing role as a leader within the PSG squad. At 28, he feels a responsibility to set an example for younger players, offering guidance and maintaining a professional attitude. “The coach asks me to lead by example. At 28, I try to deliver advice, I produce sure to show the way to the younger ones, I have to be professional. In every match, I want to score goals, make decisive passes. I want to go and get a new title with PSG.”
Resilience and Team Spirit
Dembélé highlighted the team’s resilient mentality, a characteristic emphasized by coach Luis Enrique. “Yes, the coach used the term resilient, I believe. It’s completely that, we always want to be at 100%, always win matches. In what is expected of us, there are no predefined positions, the coach likes to have players in different positions. For example, Bradley (Barcola) knows what he has to do when he plays as a striker. Last week, we did marking on some very good players, notably with João Neves.”
When questioned about his long-term future at PSG and the possibility of a contract extension, Dembélé deferred to his agent and the club, stating that he has no objections to staying but that contract negotiations are outside of his control.
Looking Ahead
PSG enters the second leg with a significant advantage, but Dembélé’s message is clear: the job is not yet done. The team is focused on maintaining their attacking approach and securing their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The match at Stamford Bridge promises to be a compelling encounter, testing PSG’s resilience and their ability to close out the tie against a determined Chelsea side.
Following the match against Chelsea, PSG will return to Ligue 1 action on March 22nd, hosting Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes. That match is scheduled for a 9:00 PM CET kickoff (3:00 PM EST).
Archysport will have full coverage of the Chelsea-PSG match, including live updates, analysis, and post-match reaction.
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