Ousmane Dembele believes he showcased the best of his ability to lead Paris Saint-Germain into the Champions League semi-finals.
Dembele scored twice in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield, which sealed a 4-0 triumph on aggregate for Luis Enrique’s side, who will face Bayern Munich or Real Madrid next.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner has now been involved in five goals in his last five Champions League away games against English sides (four goals, one assist), with Liverpool the first such team he has scored twice in a match against.
He also finished with team-high totals for shots (six), touches in the opposition box (eight) and chances created (two, level with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia), helping European champions PSG reach the final four of the competition for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
Dembele has struggled with niggling injuries throughout the duration of this campaign but has still managed to register 24 goal involvements (16 goals, eight assists) in all competitions, though the Frenchman said his performance here was him at his best.
“We’re in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in a stadium like this, we knew it was going to be difficult even if we won in the first leg,” Dembele told Canal+.
“There are no easy matches in the Champions League, you have to suffer to go all the way.
“We had chances in the first half, where we controlled a bit. It was a little more complicated in the second. We came out with two wins, which is very good.
“I’ve wanted to show my football for a long time, since last season. Every game, I want to help the team, with a goal or an assist or pressing the goalkeeper.
“I try to give my best for PSG. I hope to have a very good end to the season, there are important deadlines.”
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PSG were made to work for their win against Arne Slot’s side, who were much improved after their toothless display at the Parc des Princes last week.
Liverpool had 21 shots, their most attempts without scoring in a Champions League game since their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the final in May 2022 (24 shots).
The result also saw Liverpool fail to score in both legs of a European Cup/Champions League knockout stage tie for the third time, after the 1978-79 first round vs Nottingham Forest, and the 2005-06 round of 16 against Benfica.
Liverpool had their chances, though, most notably when Milos Kerkez’s shot was brilliantly saved by Matvey Safonov, with Marquinhos producing a heroic bit of defending to deny Virgil van Dijk on the rebound. The Reds also had a penalty awarded, but then overturned after a VAR check.
“A save for a defender is better than a goal. It’s the kind of moment when you enjoy it the most. My goalkeeper made a save and needs a second ball,” Marquinhos said.
“I turned around, and I saw Van Dijk coming, I just had the reflex to throw myself on the ball and try to save. These are details that change a match.
“We were able to defend well. Liverpool used their weapons with long balls, corners, physical play. We remained strong.
“In the strong moments, you have to take advantage of it and score goals. In weak moments, we have to be strong and not concede a goal.
“That’s what we did, we have to continue. You can see the maturity of the team. Last year, we went through all the moments where we could gain experience.
“Away games are where we suffer. Today, we were aware that the match was not over. We had to come to win, that’s the mentality we needed.”
