Positive steps down this path have been taken this season, with the 23-year-old World Cup winner’s return to form and full fitness.
The forward can make a difference and score goals
Ousmane Dembele has been faced to iron out the “flaws” in his game, as the French national team boss Didier Deschamps looking for the Barcelona forward to become more “effective”. Positive steps down this path have been taken this season, with the 23-year-old World Cup winner’s return to form and full fitness. There are, however, still areas of his game to work on, with the French coach among those looking for more potential to be unlocked in Dembele, who boasts all the attributes of an elite performer. The French national team boss told reporters after naming Dembele in his squad for the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifier: “Now he can play again, he can make a difference and score goals. Ousmane could score more and be more effective.”
Dembele is young and he has the ability to be more effective
“It’s not a question of changing him. Dembele has been playing at the highest level for a long time, and he is young. It would be good for him, for his team and us if he could become more effective. Of course, that’s something to work on. As you get older, you can make better choices. All forwards have times when they are less effective than others”. The coach added: “Ousmane has and always had this ability to create chances and make a difference. He is not always decisive in the position. That’s where it is most difficult. What matters is that he can make a difference. Yes, he can be more consistent from start to finish. I’m not saying that he cannot progress or improve. I still prefer to look at the qualities. They all have little flaws that can be erased with time.”
“Sometimes they don’t, but that doesn’t stop them from being good. We’re talking about a player who has been at the top level for several years and is still very young”. Having survived his fair share of injury setbacks since joining Barcelona in 2017, a spark has been discovered at Camp Nou this season. Ronald Koeman found a regular role in his plans for Dembele, with 35 appearances as a result, and he scored nine goals and four assists. At present, attention is shifting from domestic to international ones. Ousmane faces fierce competition for places in the French squad. But will hope to see some play over the next two weeks in meetings with Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Bosnia-Herzegovina.