Ousmane Dembele has defended his Ligue 1 Player of the Year award after starting just nine league matches to date for Paris Saint-Germain this season. The winger edged out Vitinha, Mason Greenwood and others for the prize, insisting he made his impact count whenever he was on the
The result sparked debate among fans and pundits, with some questioning how a player with relatively few starts could win the league’s top individual accolade. Speaking in the mixed zone after the ceremony, Dembele acknowledged the discussion surrounding his win but insisted he made his minutes count.
“Perceptions have changed because I’m the reigning Ballon d’Or winner,” he said, as quoted by Foot Mercato. “And yes, I’ve had quite a few physical setbacks. I haven’t had a lot of playing time, but every time I’ve been on the pitch, I’ve tried to be there for the team. That was the case against Marseille and against Lille, where I tried to help the team. I don’t know if my time counts double, but I’m happy that the players voted for me.”
