Dembele Leadership Praised By Vitinha As PSG Ready For Liverpoolnewsline24

Paris Saint-Germain approach their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool with strong momentum and clear leaders. Vitinha highlighted Ousmane Dembele as central to PSG’s plans, praising Dembele’s influence, output and attitude. Dembele’s attacking numbers and leadership are viewed inside the squad as crucial for navigating another high-pressure European tie.

PSG carry an impressive recent Champions League record into the clash with Liverpool. The team are unbeaten in their last seven knockout matches in the competition, with six wins and one draw. They have also avoided defeat in their previous six games against English clubs, winning five and drawing once.

Those runs underline PSG’s consistency in Champions League knockout football since the start of last season. They have advanced from all four knockout ties against English opposition in that period. Those victories came against Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Chelsea. If PSG avoid defeat against Liverpool, they will match Lyon’s eight-match unbeaten French record from April 2004 to March 2006.

Dembele’s numbers this season support Vitinha’s view of a decisive leader in PSG’s Champions League push. Dembele has scored 16 goals from 11.9 expected goals across all competitions, including the Club World Cup. Dembele has played only 34 games yet still tops PSG’s scoring chart. Dembele also posts the best minutes-per-goal figure in the squad, averaging 109.1 minutes per strike.

Creatively, Dembele also ranks among PSG’s leading contributors in this Champions League campaign. Dembele has supplied nine assists, with only Vitinha on 11 and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on 10 ahead. Bradley Barcola has created 73 chances, with Dembele close behind on 66, highlighting a core attacking group driving PSG’s productivity.

Dembele’s influence extends back to last season, when PSG achieved the treble. That run included a first-ever Champions League title for the club. Dembele’s displays across that campaign earned the Ballon d’Or. Those achievements add extra weight to Vitinha’s comments as PSG prepare for another knockout tie against Liverpool’s pressing style.

Earlier this season, Dembele drew attention for challenging PSG team-mates following a 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat to Rennes. Vitinha viewed that reaction as part of Dembele’s standards rather than a problem. The midfielder described Dembele, now 28 years old, as someone who leads by actions and words within the dressing room.

“Ousmane has always been a leader, even last season, he said in a pre-match press conference. When you see what he does on the pitch, what he brings to the team, he transmits that to all his team-mates. He is even more of a leader since the Ballon d’Or, but it’s something that comes naturally to him. He knows how to speak when it’s required; he’s a true leader.”

PSG’s combination of strong Champions League form and Dembele’s attacking influence gives structure to their quarter-final preparation. The unbeaten runs against English clubs and in knockout rounds support confidence. Inside the squad, characters such as Dembele, Vitinha, Barcola and Kvaratskhelia shape how PSG approach Liverpool over two legs.