Dembele: 'Scoring 7 goals is still not enough for PSG'

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele called on his teammates to stay focused following their dominant 7-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on the road in the Champions League.

This marks PSG’s third consecutive win in the Champions League group stage, maintaining their perfect record in the European competition this season. Remarkably, coach Luis Enrique’s side still managed to score six goals despite being down to 10 men after center-back Illia Zabarnyi was sent off late in the first half.

Within the first 45 minutes, the reigning champions had already decided the outcome thanks to an explosive performance from Désiré Doué, who was named “Best Player of the Champions League Final” last May when PSG defeated Inter Milan in Munich. Doué scored twice before halftime, paving the way for the French club’s victory.

After the break, PSG continued to dominate offensively. Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner who started on the bench due to fitness concerns, was brought on in the second half and took only 3 minutes to find the net on his return. Additional goals from Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha sealed a spectacular 7-2 win for PSG.

This was also Dembele’s first appearance since receiving the Ballon d’Or last month. Speaking after the match, Dembele said: “Although PSG could have avoided the red card, the key thing was that the whole team stayed focused and scored crucial goals before halftime.”

The 28-year-old striker emphasized: “We just need to keep up the pace in the second half. Scoring 7 goals is important, and the team must maintain this form. The season is only halfway through, and we need to keep our goals alive in both the Champions League and Ligue 1.”

Dembele also admitted he is not yet at full fitness after his injury: “I’m not at 100% yet. Last week I wanted to return in Ligue 1 but the coach asked me to wait a bit longer. Now I’m gradually regaining my touch and stamina.”

This victory not only strengthens PSG’s position at the top of the group but also sends a strong message to the rest of Europe: the Parisian club is back in devastating form, ready to challenge for the Champions League title for the second consecutive season.