Jorge Sampaoli's shocking attack on Ousmane Dembele sparks outrage

Ousmane Dembele has been one of PSG's best players this season. However, he often struggles with his finishing touch. Invited to speak about the attacking midfielder, Jorge Sampaoli made controversial remarks. The former Marseille coach has since apologized.

Ousmane Dembele frequently makes a difference on the field with his acceleration, dribbling, and speed. But PSG's number 10 often falters in the final touch. In his first season in Paris, he scored only six goals. He was more prolific regarding assists, with fourteen for his teammates.

Since the beginning of his career, the French international has struggled with his finishing. His former coach in the youth teams at Rennes, Julien Stephan, believes that if he had better finishing, Ousmane Dembele would be among the best players in the world and could even contend for the Ballon d'Or.

Jorge Sampaoli's shocking attack on Ousmane Dembele sparks outrage

In an interview with So Foot, Jorge Sampaoli was asked about the level of play of the French team. The Argentine coach did not hesitate to use harsh words towards Les Bleus and PSG's number 10. "The other players are like spectators watching how the play will end. They know they play like an autistic person: he starts the play and finishes it alone. He doesn't have the ability to make a teammate shine; he only knows how to make himself shine."

🗣️ Sampaoli on Ousmane Dembélé:

“He plays like an autistic person: he starts the action and finishes it alone. He only knows how to shine himself.” pic.twitter.com/S8nN5q6sXX
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) July 21, 2024

These remarks were heavily criticized on social media. With the growing controversy, the former Sevilla coach needed to apologize. "I never intended to refer to autism. I apologize to everyone. I just wanted to talk about individuality. More than ever, we need to be careful with the words we use."

This situation has generated a significant stir in the football world, and many hope Dembele will continue developing and improving his finishing. Despite the criticism, he remains a key player for PSG, and his future promises to be bright if he can overcome these minor shortcomings in his game.