Ousmane Dembélé Laughs Off the Criticism After Shining Against Manchester City

Ousmane Dembélé answers on the pitch... then laughs it off

Ousmane Dembélé could hardly have picked a better stage to respond. The Frenchman was one of PSG’s standout performers in the 4-2 win over Manchester City in the Champions League and scored one of the goals in a huge night for the Parisian side.

After the match, he was asked whether that performance had been a response to the criticism he received during the international break. Dembélé dismissed any suggestion of revenge and chose humor instead: “I went on holiday afterwards. In fact, maybe I should ask for more holidays if possible,” he joked.

Beyond the laughs, the forward praised the way his team exploited space in the first half and admitted that dropping the intensity after the break made a game that had looked under control much more complicated.

“I’ve been criticized for ten years”

The conversation continued with another question about the scrutiny that often surrounds him, and Dembélé once again played it down. Criticism, he said, has simply become part of a reality he has lived with for most of his career.

“I’ve been criticized for ten years, that’s not going to change!” he said with a laugh, before adding that he simply enjoys competing on European nights like this.

His response made it clear that he has little interest in spending too much energy on outside debate. For Dembélé, the most important thing was the performance of a PSG side that once again showed the level expected from one of Europe’s major contenders.

Dembélé brushes off the doubters

Dembélé was even more direct when asked about those who had questioned the team. “We don’t care at all that people doubted us,” he said after a victory that strengthens the confidence of Luis Enrique’s side.

The Frenchman stressed that the season is still in its early stages and called for perspective. PSG want to maintain this level both in Europe and in Ligue 1, without getting dragged into conclusions after every result.

The only real self-criticism came over the second half. Dembélé admitted that the team relaxed too much and allowed City back into the match, something he wants them to correct as the level of competition rises.

PSG is already targeting the Top 8

The victory mattered, but the forward made it clear that PSG’s ambitions go far beyond one big night. The priority is to finish among the top eight in the Champions League league phase and avoid unnecessary complications on the road to the knockout rounds.

Dembélé insisted that the team must take things one match at a time, maintain its competitive level and keep growing over the coming months. For him, October is still far removed from the point in the season when the biggest trophies are decided.

For now, the message was simple: he answered the criticism with a goal, a big performance and plenty of smiles. A perfect night for a player who says he has been hearing the same noise for a decade.

Ousmane Dembélé answers on and off the pitch

• Ousmane Dembélé scored in PSG’s 4-2 win over Manchester City in the Champions League.
• The Frenchman responded to criticism with humor: “I’ve been criticized for ten years, that’s not going to change.”
• The forward said PSG’s main objective is to finish among the top eight in the league phase.

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