The question of what makes a good player great, and a great player the very best, has long been a topic of debate among football fans. A decade ago, when I first began searching for the next generation's most promising talent, one name stood out from the rest: Ousmane Dembélé.
Born in 1997, Dembélé was a raw talent who had already shown flashes of brilliance at Rennes. But it was his qualities beyond footballing ability – resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic and willingness to learn – that truly set him apart. In an interview with Thomas Tuchel, the coach who worked with Dembélé at Borussia Dortmund, I discovered that he had been assigned to a specific category: "curious-motivated". These players, according to Tuchel, were capable of greatness and required a different approach to training.
Dembélé's journey was far from smooth. After moving to Barcelona in 2017, he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. The team had changed coaches, and the pressure to perform weighed heavily on him. He spent six injury-plagued years at Barca, scoring only 24 league goals. His most infamous moment came when he missed a crucial one-on-one opportunity against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals.
However, it was not until Dembélé joined Paris Saint-Germain that his full potential began to shine through. As the team's main man, he started to press, set the tone with his vision and movement, pace, control, and positioning, before unleashing ruthless finishing. The results were impressive: PSG won several trophies with Dembélé as a key player.
The question of what makes a good player great still eludes us. But one thing is clear: it's not just about footballing ability; it's also about the intangible qualities that make players tick. For Dembélé, it was his curious-motivated nature, his willingness to learn and improve, that set him apart from others. He had always been a player with a lot of potential, but it was only when he found the right system and coaching that he truly became great.
As I look back on Dembélé's remarkable journey, I am reminded of the power of patience and persistence. He has become one of the best players in the world through sheer hard work and dedication. His story serves as a testament to the idea that greatness is not always linear – it takes time, effort, and perseverance to reach the top.
Born in 1997, Dembélé was a raw talent who had already shown flashes of brilliance at Rennes. But it was his qualities beyond footballing ability – resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic and willingness to learn – that truly set him apart. In an interview with Thomas Tuchel, the coach who worked with Dembélé at Borussia Dortmund, I discovered that he had been assigned to a specific category: "curious-motivated". These players, according to Tuchel, were capable of greatness and required a different approach to training.
Dembélé's journey was far from smooth. After moving to Barcelona in 2017, he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. The team had changed coaches, and the pressure to perform weighed heavily on him. He spent six injury-plagued years at Barca, scoring only 24 league goals. His most infamous moment came when he missed a crucial one-on-one opportunity against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals.
However, it was not until Dembélé joined Paris Saint-Germain that his full potential began to shine through. As the team's main man, he started to press, set the tone with his vision and movement, pace, control, and positioning, before unleashing ruthless finishing. The results were impressive: PSG won several trophies with Dembélé as a key player.
The question of what makes a good player great still eludes us. But one thing is clear: it's not just about footballing ability; it's also about the intangible qualities that make players tick. For Dembélé, it was his curious-motivated nature, his willingness to learn and improve, that set him apart from others. He had always been a player with a lot of potential, but it was only when he found the right system and coaching that he truly became great.
As I look back on Dembélé's remarkable journey, I am reminded of the power of patience and persistence. He has become one of the best players in the world through sheer hard work and dedication. His story serves as a testament to the idea that greatness is not always linear – it takes time, effort, and perseverance to reach the top.
he was so hyped up back in the day but yeah, being part of PSG must've made him realize what he needed to work on 
his "curious-motivated" thing is actually kinda a normal characteristic for most pro footballers tbh, it's like they're all motivated by the desire to win and improve 
i mean, dembélé was always talented but being good isn't just about natural ability, you need that fire in your belly to push through the ups and downs of the game 
@futbolnet says hes got a "curious-motivated" personality which makes him tick 
️ anyway, just saw this vid of him score a goal for paris saint-germain & it was like watchin a genius at work 
Dembélé's transformation from raw talent to superstar is insane! I mean, 6 years of struggles at Barca were brutal, but PSG changed everything for him 
. It's like he finally found his identity as a player and clicked with the team's system 
. His work ethic and willingness to learn are truly inspiring 
. And I love how Tuchel's "curious-motivated" label is finally being recognized as a key factor in Dembélé's success 
. The fact that he had to go through all that to reach his full potential just makes me even more impressed 
.
. But then he joins PSG and it's like night and day 
. He finds his groove, becomes the main man, and suddenly he's unstoppable 
.
. He kept working, kept learning, and slowly but surely, he began to realize his full potential 
.
. Like, that's not just a label, that's a mindset 
. Dembélé had to be willing to learn, adapt, and take risks in order to reach the top 
.
But seriously, it's an inspiring reminder that greatness is not just about talent, it's about the willingness to put in the work 
.
with many ups & downs. he had raw talent but struggled 2 find his place @ barcelona 
. but wen he joined psg, everythin clicked 
. it's not just abt football skills; it's about havin the right mindset & work ethic 
.
, but not Dembélé. He used that experience to become an even better player and eventually found the right fit with PSG 
.
- it's such a refreshing change from the traditional "just talented enough" label 
. It shows that coaches are starting to recognize the importance of mental and emotional qualities in players, too 
, but with persistence and hard work 
. He's an inspiration to anyone who's ever felt like giving up on their dreams 
.
.
. It's so frustrating when you just wanna watch a goal, not an entire 2-minute montage of his entire career 
. And can we please get some actual stats or info on player development? The "curious-motivated" label is cool and all, but what does it actually mean in terms of concrete changes to their training or coaching? 
His time at PSG was a game-changer, I mean who wouldn't want to be part of that squad? 
. Maybe he would've never reached his full potential at Barca or another team...who knows? 
, I mean, who else can say they've gone from struggling in the shadow of Lionel Messi at Barca to becoming a key player for PSG? His transformation was like night and day 
. The coaches at PSG seem to have really brought out his best self - that "curious-motivated" trait is so important 
, like he only showed up when PSG came along and gave him the freedom to play. Before that, he was stuck in a rut and just couldn't seem to get it together. His stats were pretty meh too, 24 league goals? Not exactly setting the world on fire. But I guess it's all about how you look at it, maybe he just wasn't good enough for Barca but perfect for PSG 
.
. He's proof that with patience, persistence, and the right mindset, anyone can reach the top 
. I love how he struggled at Barcelona before finding his footing at PSG - it shows that even the best players go through ups and downs 
. And let's be real, his journey is a total testament to the power of patience 
. It's not always easy, but with dedication and perseverance, anyone can reach their full potential 
.
️. When he joined Barcelona, it seemed like the pressure just wasn't right for him, and he struggled to find his footing. But then he went to PSG, and man, that's when we saw a different player on the pitch 
Dembélé's journey from raw talent to greatness is a reminder that footballing ability alone isn't enough 
. He had his ups and downs 
, but found the right system and coaching 
, and now he's one of the best in the world 