Ousmane Dembele deserves 100% of the Ballon d’Or, according to the coach of France Didier Deschamps
Dembele is the favorite for the most prestigious individual football prize after playing an instrumental role in the winning season of Paris Saint-Germain, which was capped with a 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the final of the Champions League last Saturday.
The former Barcelona striker did not score in the centerpiece of Allianz Arena. However, he helped the second and fourth goals when PSG finally ended his first crown in the Champions League in the categorical way.
Dembele ended the season with 33 goals and 13 assists in all competitions and, while Barcelona features Lamine Yamal and Raphinha has solid cases with Liverpool Talisman Mohamed Salah, it is the French international who opens the way to bookmakers.
He would be the sixth French to claim the Ballon d’Or, and has no surprise the full support of Deschamps.
“Of course, I am for Ousmane, because he is French and with the season he celebrates,” said Deschamps to journalists before the semi-final of the League of Nations on Friday between France and Spain.
“Obviously, this League of Nations can provide elements of response, the Club World Cup too. If I have to choose, I tell you, 100%, of course.
“If you ask me questions about the Spanish, I don’t think they will tell you the same thing. But obviously, Ousmane, with the season he has, merit.”
Dembele and a pocket of his PSG teammates are all in the French team to face Spain, with Désiré Doué in the running to include her hug in the Champions League final. Bradley Barcola, Lucas Hernández and Warren Zaïre-Emery are also in the thoughts of Deschamps, as is the inter-Duo duo of Marcus Thuram and Benjamin Pavard.
“They are there, so I count on them,” said Deschamps about this group.
“I found them [the PSG players] Very happy Monday evening, of course, with a certain fatigue too. Then there was Benjamin and Marcus on the other side. Feelings and emotions were not the same.
“Ideally, when there is a peak like that, of course, you must always come back down, but now we have to get up quickly because the match is near.”
The victory over Spain at Stuttgart would see the PSG quota returning to the scene of their historic triumph, the winners had to face Portugal in the final at the Allianz Arena on Sunday.
