Ousmane Dembele says Paris Saint-Germain are fully prepared for the UEFA Champions League Final against Arsenal after addressing both the team’s ambitions and his fitness during the pre match press conference.
Dembele began by praising Arsenal and acknowledging the quality shown by the Premier League side throughout the season.
“Arsenal is an excellent team, we’ve seen them running away with the Premier League title and what they showed us in the Champions League.
“They deserve to be in the final. They play great football across the board. They’ve got an exceptional coach, too,” he said.
The French forward also spoke about life after winning the Ballon d’Or, insisting the award has not changed his mentality or ambitions at PSG.
“It hasn’t changed how I play or who I am. I think I just have more responsibility on my shoulders since I came to PSG. Nothing changed with my winning appetite though, I still want to wear silverware with our team.
“Individual prizes got the people talking, but for me, the most important thing is winning with PSG,” Dembele continued.
There had been concerns among PSG supporters after Dembele suffered a calf injury towards the end of the Ligue 1 season, but the 29 year old confirmed he is ready for the final in Budapest.
Landing in Budapest. 🛬#UCLFinal I @qatarairways pic.twitter.com/SRrqnqjPDh
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 29, 2026
“I wasn’t scared about missing the final, I had 10-15 days to get ready. The season was quite difficult for everyone at PSG, we didn’t have a lot of downtime. But we’re 100% ready to go,” he said.
Dembele also highlighted the demanding schedule faced by the squad this season, following their involvement in the Club World Cup and Super Cup before the domestic campaign began.
“We’re trying to be ready physically, the coach gave us a lot of rest days. He and his staff have meticulously planned all the games. But I like playing lots of games, that means you make it far,” he added.
The PSG attacker reserved praise for manager Luis Enrique, describing him as one of the best coaches he has worked with during his career.
“He’s helped me progress a lot, with and without the ball. I try to implement all the tactical advice he gives me. But I’m also surrounded by incredible players, which makes it easier for me,” Dembele explained.
Looking ahead to the final, Dembele said PSG remain determined to continue building on last season’s European success.
“We always want to be playing the Champions League final. It was a historical time. We are a young, highly ambitious squad. Winning tomorrow is important for us and if we could pull it off, winning again would be historical.
“We’re on a high, we make the most of these moments. We’ve got incredible staff, players, desire to win. We know we can win the Champions League,” he stated.
