Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé: From Unfulfilled Promise to World Class Performance
The question of what makes a good player great, and a great player the very best, has long plagued sports enthusiasts. This inquiry was first posed by this author in 2014, when researching for The Guardian's inaugural Next Generation feature. At that time, I set out to identify a France-based talent born in 1997 who could achieve remarkable success on the football pitch.
After extensive research and consultation with Thomas Tuchel, coach of Borussia Dortmund at the time, Dembélé emerged as a standout candidate. According to Tuchel, players are categorized into one of three categories based on their dominant motivation: aggressive-motivated (individual glory), binding-motivated (team spirit), or curious-motivated (a desire for greatness).
Dembélé was categorized as a 'curious-motivated' player, meaning he needed to be trained in a unique way. This label resonated with Tuchel, who has a proven track record of success with players of this caliber.
However, Dembélé's journey to the top has not been without its setbacks. After joining Barcelona in 2017, his career was marred by injuries and inconsistent form. He started only a third of league games for the club and scored a total of 24 goals over six seasons. A move away from Barcelona ultimately proved beneficial, as Dembélé found his footing at Paris Saint-Germain.
Under coach Luis Enrique's plan to replace Kylian Mbappé's goal-scoring record, Dembélé was initially seen as an unsung hero. However, after being liberated from the pressure of expectation, he quietly emerged as the main man for PSG.
Dembélé's exceptional performances have been marked by his vision, movement, pace, control, and positioning on the pitch. His finishing has become ruthless, a far cry from the player who was once considered wasteful with his scoring opportunities.
One pivotal moment in Dembélé's career came during PSG's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. A clever move, using Bradley Barcola as a decoy, allowed him to receive the return ball and score. Similar moments against Arsenal showcased his ability to drop deep early in games and switch the play to create scoring opportunities.
The key factors contributing to Dembélé's success can be attributed to his intangible qualities: resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic, response to feedback, and willingness to learn. These attributes were evident even at 17, when he first appeared in The Guardian's pages as a player to watch.
While it is impossible to quantify these qualities, Dembélé's exceptional performances this season demonstrate that they are essential components of a great player. Chemistry within the team, a strong relationship with his coach, and playing in a system that suits him all contribute to his success.
Ousmane Dembélé's well-deserved prize as the world's best male player is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and natural ability. The journey from unfulfilled promise to world-class performance serves as a reminder that greatness can be achieved with the right combination of qualities and support.
The question of what makes a good player great, and a great player the very best, has long plagued sports enthusiasts. This inquiry was first posed by this author in 2014, when researching for The Guardian's inaugural Next Generation feature. At that time, I set out to identify a France-based talent born in 1997 who could achieve remarkable success on the football pitch.
After extensive research and consultation with Thomas Tuchel, coach of Borussia Dortmund at the time, Dembélé emerged as a standout candidate. According to Tuchel, players are categorized into one of three categories based on their dominant motivation: aggressive-motivated (individual glory), binding-motivated (team spirit), or curious-motivated (a desire for greatness).
Dembélé was categorized as a 'curious-motivated' player, meaning he needed to be trained in a unique way. This label resonated with Tuchel, who has a proven track record of success with players of this caliber.
However, Dembélé's journey to the top has not been without its setbacks. After joining Barcelona in 2017, his career was marred by injuries and inconsistent form. He started only a third of league games for the club and scored a total of 24 goals over six seasons. A move away from Barcelona ultimately proved beneficial, as Dembélé found his footing at Paris Saint-Germain.
Under coach Luis Enrique's plan to replace Kylian Mbappé's goal-scoring record, Dembélé was initially seen as an unsung hero. However, after being liberated from the pressure of expectation, he quietly emerged as the main man for PSG.
Dembélé's exceptional performances have been marked by his vision, movement, pace, control, and positioning on the pitch. His finishing has become ruthless, a far cry from the player who was once considered wasteful with his scoring opportunities.
One pivotal moment in Dembélé's career came during PSG's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. A clever move, using Bradley Barcola as a decoy, allowed him to receive the return ball and score. Similar moments against Arsenal showcased his ability to drop deep early in games and switch the play to create scoring opportunities.
The key factors contributing to Dembélé's success can be attributed to his intangible qualities: resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic, response to feedback, and willingness to learn. These attributes were evident even at 17, when he first appeared in The Guardian's pages as a player to watch.
While it is impossible to quantify these qualities, Dembélé's exceptional performances this season demonstrate that they are essential components of a great player. Chemistry within the team, a strong relationship with his coach, and playing in a system that suits him all contribute to his success.
Ousmane Dembélé's well-deserved prize as the world's best male player is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and natural ability. The journey from unfulfilled promise to world-class performance serves as a reminder that greatness can be achieved with the right combination of qualities and support.
I mean what was wrong with him at Barcelona lol his career was literally crippled by injuries and lack of playing time he was this super talented player but never got the chance to shine... now he's living his best life in Paris 
and let me tell you it's been a wild ride watching him transform from "what's going on" to pure GOLD 
and now he's reaping the benefits of being part of a team with top-notch coaches and players. And his stats this season are insane 
Dembélé has finally found his groove and it's beautiful to watch
he worked hard, listened to feedback, and adapted to the system... and look what we got now 
Ousmane Dembélé is the real deal and I'm SO here for it 
! he's like, went from being a super talented but kinda disappointing player to becoming ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD!!! his game has improved so much, it's insane! 
what was going through his mind when he joined PSG and just decided to shut everyone up with his sick skills? 
I think what's really cool about Ousmane Dembélé's rise is how he's found his groove at PSG after struggling in Barcelona 
. It's clear Dembélé's got all the skills, but it's his intangible qualities like resilience and adaptability that make him a world-class player 
. Can't wait to see what he does next season! 
. It's like you said, all those setbacks and injuries could've broken him, but he didn't give up 
. But Dembélé just kept working at it, learning from his mistakes, and adapting to new situations. And now, he's literally unstoppable on the pitch 
hes got this quiet confidence that comes with hard work and dedication. hes always been someone who's looked for ways to learn and grow as a player, and thats something that we can all admire 
i think what's really set him apart now is his ability to stay calm under pressure and just let his game do the talking 
. I've been meaning to ask, can you just get good at football by practicing a lot, like, all day every day? I feel like Dembélé must have practiced for like, thousands of hours before he became that good 
.
it's like he found his own recipe for success n now he's winning awards left n right 
. I think what really made him break out was when he found the right team and coach - it's all about finding that chemistry 
. He's not just a great player, but also a humble one, which is awesome 
. His story is like, totally inspiring, you know? It shows that even when things don't go your way, you can still achieve greatness with the right mindset and support 
1st time i heard about him was in 2014 when he was still a teenager but didnt really make an impact... only now is he considered one of the best players in the world 
what took so long?! 24 goals in 6 seasons at barcelona not exactly impressive stats for someone who was supposed to be the next big thing 
, I mean, we all saw how he'd get frustrated when things weren't going his way... still, can't deny the dude's got skills 
. It just goes to show that even with all the hype and expectations, it's the little things like resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn that really make the difference 
. And you're right, chemistry within the team and having a strong relationship with his coach must play a big role in his success too 
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however, it is pretty wild how coach enrique brought out the best in him when he was seen as just an unsung hero initially 
but what really gets me is that nobody's providing actual stats or data on his 'intangible qualities'