Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha has praised Ousmane Dembele’s leadership and match-winning qualities ahead of their Champions League meeting with Barcelona, backing the French forward to make another major impact against his former club.
Dembele spent six seasons at Barcelona before moving to the French capital, and Vitinha believes his experience and influence make him a key figure for PSG in high-profile European encounters.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference at the Parc des Princes, the Portuguese midfielder described Dembele’s contribution to the team as special.
Vitinha said: “He’s been one of the leaders of this team for a while.
“What he can bring to this kind of game is unique.
“We hope that he’ll be able to give us goosebumps again tomorrow.”
Vitinha also defended fellow Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves, noting that fluctuations in form are a normal part of football and stressing the importance of healthy competition within the squad.
“Every player has ups and downs… What we’re trying to do is to be as consistent as possible,” Vitinha said.
He added that PSG’s depth meant players had to compete for places, but insisted the challenge was beneficial to everyone.
“We have a lot of good players, which means that there’s competition, but it’s a very healthy and very positive competition for everyone.
“It forces us to always do our best, which I think is key,” he said.
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With Barcelona standing between PSG and another important Champions League result, Vitinha’s comments underline the confidence the French side place in Dembele’s leadership and the competitive spirit within their squad.
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