PSG’s Ousmane Dembele praises “exceptional” Luis Enrique ahead of Champions League final versus Arsenal

PSG star man Ousmane Dembele lauded his head coach, Luis Enrique before they go out to face Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30.

Speaking to M6 on Sunday evening (via Foot Mercato), Dembele heaped praise on Luis Enrique, recalling his earlier stint with Barcelona and his current one at PSG. The Frenchman said: “Luis Enrique, his secret? We can’t say (laughs). He’s a top-level coach. We saw it at FC Barcelona and now at PSG. He’s a coach who has a clear vision, and he tries to convey it to all his teams. He has a lot of energy; you can see it in press conferences. He’s a very good coach, he’s exceptional, and we hope he stays at PSG for a very long time.”

The 29-year-old has emerged as Les Parisiens’ most lethal attacking weapon since the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in 2024. With 19 goals and 11 assists across 39 matches this season, Dembele remains a strong candidate to retain the Ballon d’Or for this year. However, the player continues to demand more from himself, as he said, “Many have seen things in me, but there are also things to improve. Whether it’s with Luis Enrique or the players I’m with on the pitch, they are all high-quality players, and I’m also trying to progress. I’ve questioned myself a lot. Luis Enrique asked me to lead by example, both on and off the pitch. I’ve had much more responsibility. I’m simply trying to do my job.”

Finally, Dembele indicated towards improving his performances with the French National Team, who are set to feature in the World Cup this year. “Of course, I still have to prove myself with Les Bleus. The Champions League is the first step with PSG, then there’s an incredible competition for us French. It’s exceptional to play in a World Cup, it doesn’t happen every day. I’ll be playing in my third, and I hope to perform well. It’s a goal, especially after the disappointment we experienced in 2022“, remarked the Paris Saint-Germain forward.