Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has stirred controversy by publicly comparing Ousmane Dembélé to Kylian Mbappé following the team's qualification for the Champions League final. He suggested that Dembélé contributes more to the Parisian collective, a statement that has sparked strong reactions across Europe.
When questioned about Mbappé's expected departure to Real Madrid, Luis Enrique stated that he made the decision to rebuild the team around players fully committed to the PSG project. "When I arrived at PSG, Mbappé already wanted to leave the club to join Real Madrid," he said. "Mbappé wanted to leave, so I had to build my team around Dembélé and other players who want to play for the shirt".
Luis Enrique also emphasized Dembélé's impeccable daily attitude: "Dembélé has no ego. Even when I replace him, he doesn't complain". He highlighted the player's positive attitude, even suggesting him as a potential Ballon d'Or 2025 contender.
The former Spain coach then compared the recent trajectories of the two French internationals. "Today, Dembélé is a Ballon d'Or winner, Champions League winner, treble winner, and we are in the Champions League final for two years in a row," he stated. In contrast, he noted that "Mbappé has had two seasons without a trophy with Real Madrid and has not even reached the Champions League semi-finals". These statements have fueled discussions about the performance and impact of both players.
Luis Enrique concluded by expressing his belief in Dembélé's potential: "I think Dembélé can become a bigger name than Mbappé in football". These remarks are likely to intensify the debate around the two players as PSG's Champions League final approaches. The outcome of this final could well influence the perception of each player's respective contribution to their team's success.
