Paris Saint-Germain are hopeful that Ousmane Dembele can recapture his red-hot form ahead of their crucial Champions League semifinal showdown with Arsenal.
Dembele was unstoppable between December and March, scoring 25 goals in 20 matches after coach Luis Enrique reinvented him as a central striker. His goalscoring spree included a vital strike at Anfield against Liverpool, helping PSG advance past the Champions League last-16 on penalties.
However, since returning from international duty with France, Dembele has lost some of his edge, scoring just twice in his last seven appearances — both goals coming against Dunkerque in the French Cup semi-final. He failed to find the net during PSG’s tense quarterfinal win over Aston Villa and missed several chances in the recent 3-1 defeat to Nice, despite taking seven shots.
This dip in form has mirrored a slight downturn for PSG, who have won just once in their last four matches. Yet Luis Enrique remains calm, dismissing concerns about Dembele’s frustrations and emphasizing his focus on the team’s collective goals.
Dembele, who missed PSG’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal back in October after being dropped for perceived selfishness, has since evolved significantly under Enrique’s tough love approach. After a suspension in November, Dembele returned a transformed player, helping PSG maintain their charge on multiple fronts.
Despite his recent struggles, Dembele continues to contribute creatively, assisting goals against Nice and Aston Villa. With teammates like Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also in form, PSG are gearing up for a massive opportunity to avenge their earlier defeat to the Gunners and push toward a Champions League final.
A strong finish to the season could even place Dembele among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or, crowning a remarkable individual turnaround.