Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele refused to take the man of the match award in their 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League quarter-finals. They advanced to the semis on aggregate. Ousmane Dembele has been PSG’s best player this season. What did Ousmane Dembele do in PSG vs Aston Villa? Paris Saint-Germain’s second-leg Champions League quarter-final clash against Aston Villa nearly ended in dramatic fashion after the hosts’ impressive second-half comeback. The French champions won the title 5-4 on aggregate but nearly threw it away in the end despite going 2-0 up in the first half.
Ousmane Dembele was named Man of the Match for his performance. He assisted Nuno Mendes’ goal in the first half and had many opportunities to score. Despite losing 3-2, Dembele was awarded the award. Some felt goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma deserved it following a match-saving performance. Footage emerged of Dembele refusing to take the award from an official, who he ignored as he disappeared in the tunnel. Later, a photo of the Frenchman holding the award emerged. Dembele did not look happy. What Dembele said after PSG vs Aston Villa Dembele has been arguably PSG’s best player this season. He was influential against the Premier League side but believes they got carried away. “We thought we were too good. At 2-1, we thought we were already qualified and that it was over,” Dembele told Canal+ via Metro Sports. “That’s how the Champions League goes. You face teams whose supporters are as hot as that and they can turn the game on its head. We will have to be more demanding in the semi-finals.’
They will face either Real Madrid or Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final. The rise and rise of Dembele Dembele was tipped to become a world beater when he joined Barcelona in a big money deal from Borussia Dortmund. he is the fourth-most expensive footballer ever. Ousmane Dembele failed to live up to expectations at Barcelona. He spent six years at the club but was inconsistent, partly due to injuries. In 141 games for Barcelona, he registered 40 goals and 41 assists. He was sold in 2023 to PSG and has been reborn at the club. He struggled in his first season but now seems to have settled. The World Cup winner has registered 32 goals and 11 assists this season in all competitions and has already won the 2024/25 Ligue 1. Can he inspire PSG to Champions League glory?
by Edwin Kiplagat
