Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has praised Ousmane Dembélé’s football education at Barcelona, saying the French forward’s experience at the Spanish club has helped him understand his tactical demands.
“ Ousmane Dembélé was in the best football school at Barcelona. He already knows everything!” Enrique said.
“A player who comes from Barcelona adapts to what I like in football, he understands perfectly.”
Enrique’s comments underline the influence of Barcelona’s football philosophy on players who develop at or experience the club, particularly in their understanding of positional play, movement and possession-based football.
Dembélé played for Barcelona from 2017 to 2023 before joining Paris Saint-Germain, where he has continued his career under Enrique, who previously managed the Catalan club.
The PSG coach’s remarks point to a shared footballing background that can help players adapt to his tactical expectations. Enrique managed Barcelona between 2014 and 2017, winning major honours with the club and working within its possession-oriented tradition.
For Dembélé, that familiarity may be an advantage in understanding the demands of Enrique’s system, although the coach’s comments also reflect his broader appreciation of the football education associated with Barcelona.
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