Dembélé answers critics with goal and assist against Manchester City

Ousmane Dembélé answered on the pitch the criticism that had surrounded him for several weeks. On Wednesday evening, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner scored the match’s opening goal in the 15th minute and provided an assist to Maghnes Akliouche in the 62nd minute, directly contributing to PSG’s 4-2 victory away at Manchester City in the second matchday of the Ligue des Champions league phase.

This performance comes in a particular context for the Paris striker, who faced strong criticism following a disappointing international break with France. Former PSG midfielder Édouard Cissé came to his defence forcefully, denouncing unfair treatment. “I simply notice that there is a certain cabal against Ousmane. I believe he is not respected enough. He has the right to sometimes perform less well, as was the case with France. When there is a big match, he knows how to step up, proof of that! And he has been well managed by Luis Enrique,” he said in his match debrief for L’Équipe.

Questioned at the final whistle, Dembélé swept aside the doubts with displayed serenity. “We don’t care at all that people doubted us. It’s October, it’s the second Champions League match and we stay focused. We know that in the first part of the season, we need to stay on track and then prepare for the second part of the season,” he said.

Far from wanting to settle scores, the French international preferred humour. “Did I want to set the record straight? Not at all, there was the international break and then I went on holiday,” he confided with a laugh, before concluding with an ironic jab: “Besides, I might ask for more holidays. I’ve been criticized for 10 years so that’s not going to change, right.”