Xavi raves about Dembélé: “Same level as the best Neymar”
Ousmane Dembele
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Barca coach Xavi thinks Ousmane Dembélé is currently playing as well as PSG star Neymar was in his prime.
Ousmane Dembélé has garnered far more negative than positive coverage in recent years. The 25-year-old Frenchman, once tipped as a potential Ballon d’Or winner, has frequently attracted attention with injuries, inconsistent performances and indiscipline. Things are currently going much better for the winger. That’s what his trainer thinks too – and dares to make a remarkable comparison.
Due to Dembélé’s extension, Fati’s recovery and the transfers of Torres in the winter and Raphinha in the summer Barcelona-Coach Xavi is currently spoiled for choice on the offensive outer positions. Ousmane Dembélé is doing particularly well at the moment, having scored three times in the first four La Liga games and now also provided two assists in the Champions League against Viktoria Pilsen. Coach Xavi is therefore full of praise for the former problem child.
“He’s happy, he provides assists, he’s a weapon on the wing and he makes decisions. I’ve seen few players who have such one-on-one skills,” Xavi enthused after the game against Viktoria Pilsen.
Barca coach Xavi sees Dembélé at the level of Prime-Neymar
Xavi did not hold back with high-level comparisons and explained that Dembélé is currently “on the same level as the best neymar” was. The Brazilian kicked for Barca between 2013 and 2017 and acted in his prime almost at the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. If you follow Xavi’s thesis, Dembélé could actually be a player who can play for the Ballon d’Or. However, it would be rather presumptuous to expect this. After all, the Frenchman has had numerous injuries and unstable form and could already count a consistently strong season as a win.
Xavi ennobles Dembélé: ‘No winger who is so strong on both sides’
Xavi also noted that the player has “suffered a lot” in recent years due to his injuries and deserves “to be where he is now” all the more. His hopes in the winger are enormous. “There is no winger who is as strong on both sides as he is,” he praised Dembélé again.
The only question is whether Xavi should perhaps keep the ball a little flatter instead of building up pressure indirectly and creating excessive expectations. Maybe Dembélé is also a player who needs exactly these praise triads.
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This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Xavi raves about Dembélé: “Same level as the best Neymar” released.