Ousmane Dembélé has caused a lot of trouble in his career, and FC Barcelona also wanted to get rid of him. Now he is suddenly a beacon of hope.
The fifth group matchday in the Champions League can be a disaster for Barcelona. The Catalans only have four points on their account when the game kicks off against Bayern (twelve points) this Wednesday (live ticker at sportschau.de) at 8.45 p.m., but they will be richer by one thing: Should be a group competitor Inter Milan (seven) from 6.45 p.m. won the expected home win against Viktoria Pilsen, then Barca must win – otherwise the knockout stage is already out of reach.
Top performances in La Liga
It is obvious that this scenario would be a nightmare for the world club in view of the chronic financial crisis – the debt level before this season was said to be 1.35 billion euros. But Barcelona still has hope. This is mainly based on the performances in La Liga, where the proud record of nine wins, one draw and one defeat is only not enough for first place because Real Madrid have not lost at all.
Similar to Erling Haaland at Manchester City, Robert Lewandowski has had an outstanding impact at Barca so far, scoring twelve goals and five assists in eleven games. While these numbers, albeit certainly not of this magnitude, were also expected from the ex-Bayern star, his right-hand neighbor is particularly surprising at the moment.
Also mentally arrived in Barcelona
After very difficult times, Ousmane Dembélé seems to have finally arrived in Barcelona in terms of sport, but above all mentally. On Sunday (October 23, 2022) he showed his best performance of the season so far in the 4-0 win against Atlétic Bilbao, the press paid tribute to Dembélé, who was directly involved in all four goals. The Frenchman scored one himself, he gave three to his colleagues – this team spirit hadn’t exactly been his best quality for years. He moved up to sixth place in the list of top scorers in the Primera Division with three goals and five assists.
Many observers had no longer thought it possible that the five-year connection between the ex-Dortmunder and FC Barcelona should really be something again, he was to be sold several times. Because the scandals and ego excesses, which are also known from the days at Stade Rennes and Borussia Dortmund, also accompanied him to the capital of Catalonia.
“I’m done with football”
At Stade Rennes, Dembélé once wanted to force his move to RB Salzburg and also traveled to Austria several times on his own to see the situation there. When he was denied that, Rennes sports director Mikael Silvestre told “L’Equipe” from a Dembélé SMS: “I’m going to Senegal, I’m done with football, you’re pissing me off.'” Shortly thereafter, he extended in Rennes by three years to sign up at Dortmund the following season.
At BVB, the right wing shone at times in a sporty way, tore the “Süd” with them, but then wanted to force his move to Barca in 2017. He went on strike, received a six-figure fine and was then allowed to leave anyway – for well over 100 million euros.
Regular home visits
In Barcelona, Dembélé initially suffered from numerous injuries, which the club officials attributed to his unprofessional lifestyle with too much fast food, according to “Mundo Deportivo”. The club provided him with a nutrition d-doc and a supervisor, and he received regular home visits from the doctor and physiotherapist because he somehow couldn’t manage the appointments on the club’s premises.
His Dortmund past caught up with him again briefly in court because, according to “Welt”, he left his apartment “like a garbage dump” and did not return a key. In Barcelona, meanwhile, he fell out with his coaches several times and got suspensions and high fines because he was sometimes drastically late for the practice sessions. Delayed injuries, missed doctor’s appointments, lack of discipline on the pitch alternated again and again with pardons and gala appearances.
Barca coach Xavi somehow gets along with Ousmane Dembélé
Xavi has apparently found access
This season, Dembélé seems to be focusing more on his undeniably outstanding sporting qualities, his pace with the ball, his precise shot and his fairly newfound eye for team-mates. Unlike his predecessors, coach Xavi seems to have found access to the 25-year-old.
It remains to be seen how long the joy will last, the ultimate endurance test would be when another big club lures. In the short term, Dembélé is definitely one of the last Barca hopes to hibernate in the premier class.