Jorge Sampaoli is anything but a fan of Ousmane Dembélé. The former Argentina coach finds the French star to be a frustrating player.
France was eliminated in the semifinals of the last European Championship by the eventual winner, Spain. Dembélé played 79 minutes in that match.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward was unable to make an impact in the tournament. He did not score any goals or provide any assists. "When he gets going, his teammates are just spectators, waiting to see how his action ends," Sampaoli told the French magazine So Foot.
"They know he plays with blinders on: he starts an action and then sees where it ends," criticized the 64-year-old coach. "He cannot empower others or make them shine. He only knows how to make himself shine." This criticism highlights a broader concern about Dembélé's playing style, which some believe is too individualistic and lacks the teamwork needed to succeed at the highest levels of international competition.
Dembélé did not have a great season at the club level either. In all competitions, he scored only five goals, a disappointing tally for a player of his caliber and expectations at Paris Saint-Germain. His performance has been underwhelming, considering the high hopes placed on him by both his club and national team.
Sampaoli is currently without a club. In the summer of 2023, he left Brazilian side Flamengo after a brief stint. Sampaoli has previously managed teams such as Sevilla, Olympique Marseille, and Santos, gaining a reputation for his intense coaching style and tactical acumen. Despite his successes, he has often been a controversial figure, known for his outspoken opinions and sometimes tumultuous relationships with players and management.
His comments on Dembélé reflect a broader frustration within the football community about players who fail to live up to their potential due to a lack of team-oriented play. As Sampaoli continues to seek his next coaching opportunity, his candid observations about players like Dembélé serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in managing top-level football talent.
