Zidane praises Dembélé's pressing, a pillar of Mbappé's goal

Zinédine Zidane said that, despite the criticism over his lack of offensive impact in Turkey on Friday (a 1-0 defeat), Ousmane Dembélé “won points” thanks to his decisive pressing, contributing to Kylian Mbappé’s goal for France.

Dembélé’s decisive pressing

The Paris Saint‑Germain striker was very useful and hardworking, his pressing having allowed the French to recover the ball before Mbappé’s goal. This off‑the‑ball role represents a notable evolution compared to the Deschamps era, where the concept of pressing was almost non‑existent.

When asked about his new centre‑forward, the French manager expressed his satisfaction on Téléfoot’s microphone.

“I really appreciated what he did on the pitch with the ball, and especially without the ball. He was very useful to us in the pressure we applied. We simply think of Ousmane when he has the ball, and it’s true that he can do extraordinary things, on the wing or in front. That’s what he does in Paris. But he is very intelligent in the pressing.”

Zidane concluded by reminding of the importance of pressing in the French team’s play.