Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé has insisted that his side remain fully motivated and “hungry” to retain their European crown ahead of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal FC.
The French champions, who won the trophy for the first time last season, will defend their title at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, while Arsenal chase their first-ever Champions League triumph under manager Mikel Arteta.
Speaking to reporters, Dembélé said PSG’s squad remains focused despite their recent success.
“We’re enjoying every moment, we’re very focused… we have a young squad, incredible staff and incredible players who want to win trophies,” he said.
He added that the team’s ambition extends beyond a single title.
“We’re hungry to win every trophy, whether it’s the Champions League, the league, or the cup,” Dembélé said.
The forward stressed that elite players must consistently deliver in major finals if they want to be considered among the best.
“We’re competitors — if we want to be great players, we have to win this kind of trophy several times,” he added.
Dembélé also addressed concerns over a calf issue he suffered earlier in May, saying he never feared missing the final.
“No I wasn’t scared about missing the final, I stopped as soon as I felt the niggle,” he explained, noting he had nearly two weeks to recover.
The French international, who previously played for FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, won the Ballon d’Or last year following PSG’s successful European campaign.
Despite his individual accolades, Dembélé said personal awards are not his focus.
“Individual awards, I know people talk about them a lot, but those come afterwards,” he said, emphasising his commitment to team success.
He also noted that winning major trophies has increased his sense of responsibility within the squad but has not changed his playing mentality.
PSG head into the final aiming to defend their title, while Arsenal seek to end their long wait for Champions League glory in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter in Budapest.
