Pundit mocks former FC Barcelona star, criticises PSG and France form

Ousmane Dembele, who scored for France in their recent Nations League match against Belgium, delivered a solid performance that delighted supporters and pundits alike. The Paris Saint-Germain forward netted a stunning goal with a left-footed strike in the second half, contributing to France's 2-0 victory. However, while Dembele's goal was celebrated, it has also ignited criticism regarding his overall efficiency this season.

In a post-match interview with TF1, Dembele shared his thoughts on the goal, expressing satisfaction and relief. He revealed that he had been encouraged to be more decisive in front of goal rather than always seeking to assist his teammates:

"The goal? It feels great, especially as I was told to shoot more. I knew I’d get the chance, and it came through tonight. I’ve been told I’m too generous and look for the pass too often. I decided to take my chance. When I dribble past one or two players, I sometimes lack freshness in my shots."

Despite being a key player for both PSG and the French national team, Dembele is not widely known for his finishing ability. The forward has often faced criticism for his inconsistency in front of goal. “This season, I’ll try to be more selfish and take my chances more often,” Dembele added. He continues to work on his finishing in training sessions at PSG, aiming to improve his precision and scoring consistency.

Pundit mocks former FC Barcelona star, criticises PSG and France form

In contrast to Dembele’s self-assessment, football pundit Daniel Riolo, speaking on RMC Sport’s After Foot (h/t Le10Sport) took a more sardonic view of the forward’s performance. Riolo mocked Dembele’s goal, suggesting that his success was an infrequent occurrence.

"Ousmane Dembele? Like once every two months, he closed his eyes and the ball went well. If he opens his eyes, it will go into the stands; he’s better off keeping his eyes shut. The last time we saw him do that was against Barcelona in March. Do the math and you’ll get an idea of his frequency of hitting the target."

I won’t deny that Riolo’s comments have at least some validity, but the impact Dembele makes with his assists and key passes cannot be overlooked. Of course, to appreciate that fully, you would need to watch every single PSG and France match.