Dembélé: 'Barça is a family'
Ousmane Dembélé has looked back at the season just ended in an interview with Spanish sports newspaper Marca, saying "I have been able to play many games. Before it was more difficult because I suffered many injuries. Now I'm happier because I'm playing a lot more. And I'm also happy with the team and with the people at Barcelona."
The season
“This season has been good for Barcelona. We won the league. It is always good to get this title and even more after going three years without winning it. We have given Barcelona fans great joy, and for that we are also happy.”
Hopes for next season
“Everyone wants to win the Champions League again because we haven't achieved it for many years. I hope everything goes well in Europe next season.”
“The Champions League does not forgive and if you make a mistake, you are out. You always have to be very focused. This is so. But we're still very excited about the Champions League and we'll see what happens next season.”
Feeling confident
“I really like having the confidence of the coach. All the players, if they have the confidence of the coach and the staff, can improve and feel comfortable.”
“I always want to score more goals, give more assists and have the team support me because it is very important. I don't know if I'm one of the stars.”
“The atmosphere among the squad is the key to winning titles. If there are a lot of problems in a dressing room, the team suffers, and that's not good. Now Barcelona is a family, with many youngsters and also veterans. There is a very good atmosphere in the team.”
Family atmosphere
“The last three years have been very difficult for everyone. Xavi has given the team a lot of confidence. He has taken the pressure off the players because he is a man of the house and he knows everything that has happened at Barcelona very well, and he has taken a lot of pressure off us”.
“Competition is always good for the team. Raphinha is a very good player. I had known him for a long time because he was at Rennes, which is my team, and I always went to see his games. The competition between everyone is good: Lewandowski, Raphinha, Ansu, Ferran... and also in midfield with Frenkie and Busi and the rest. This makes the team evolve and grow”.
“Lewandowski is a great player, he scores many goals. We already knew it from his stage at Bayern [Munich]. I have a good relationship with him, both on and off the pitch. He is a good person and a phenomenal player.”
"In training, we work together and everyone knows how to play, whether it's Jules, Araujo or Sergi Roberto. Everyone knows what they have to do on the field."
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