Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele who is a Muslim by religion is making headlines after the 26-year-old winger surprisingly expressed his “love” for Barcelona, despite enduring constant booing during his return with PSG in the Champions League
After leaving Barcelona last summer, Ousmane Dembele played a crucial role in PSG’s stunning comeback on the Spanish turf. For the unversed, on Tuesday night, his goal just before half-time, following Raphinha’s early opener, propelled the Parisians forward in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.
What is the religion of footballer Ousmane Dembele and is a Christian or Muslim
Just like that Paris Saint-Germain capitalized on their momentum post-break exploiting a 10-man Barcelona with Vitinha and Kylian Mbappe swiftly adding two goals to take the lead.
Following the expulsion of Ronald Araujo after receiving a red card, Barcelona’s efforts and attempts to rally back fell short. Ilkay Gundogan came close with a strike that kissed the outside of the post.
However, Barcelona’s fate was sealed when Mbappe sealed the deal with a late fourth goal, securing a memorable comeback and a place in the last four.
Barcelona enthusiasts made a concerted effort to rattle Dembele who is a Muslim by religion, expressing their disapproval with whistles every time the French player touched the ball, as he played a crucial role in their team’s defeat, having been positioned on the right flank by Luis Enrique.
When asked about the reception from the Barcelona enthusiasts during a post-match interview, Dembele responded, “The welcome I received? I took it in stride because I’ve been through it before in 2021, being whistled at here in Barcelona.
Ousmane Dembélé vs Barcelona
pic.twitter.com/qbpcRo06o2— PSG Comps (@CompsPSG) April 17, 2024
“I won’t alter my style of play due to whistles. I remained focused and gave my best. Barca is a fantastic club. I have a deep affection for Barcelona… and I comprehend the whistles. It’s part of life.”
He furthermore affirmed that his teammates harbored a strong conviction in their ability to reverse their fate in Spain, despite suffering defeat in the initial match at Parc des Princes. “Everyone was confident [about our chances of qualification], despite the 3-2 loss in the first leg,” he emphasized.
With this victory, PSG is still in pursuit of their first Champions League title. Now they will progress to face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, following the German team’s elimination of Atletico Madrid in another exhilarating encounter.
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