Ousmane Dembele refused his Man of the Match award following PSG’s dramatic 3-2 loss to Aston Villa in the Champions League. Despite advancing with a 5-4 aggregate, Dembele criticized PSG’s complacency, admitting they underestimated Villa after leading 2-1, and warned against overconfidence in such high-stakes matches.
Ousmane Dembele made headlines after refusing the Man of the Match award following Paris Saint-Germain's narrow 3-2 loss to Aston Villa in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Although PSG advanced with a 5-4 aggregate, Dembele was visibly frustrated and shunned the award when handed to him. After the game, he expressed his anger, explaining that PSG had underestimated Villa after leading 2-1, believing they had already secured qualification.
"We thought we were too good," Dembele admitted. "At 2-1, we assumed it was over. But that's how the Champions League works—teams with passionate supporters can turn the game on its head." Despite the tense situation, Dembele later appeared with the trophy, though his facial expression remained blank.
PSG was in control early in the game, but Villa mounted a comeback in the second half, putting pressure on the French side. PSG will now face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-finals, with the Gunners holding a 3-0 lead going into the second leg. Before that, PSG will focus on their Ligue 1 match against Le Havre on Saturday, as they continue their pursuit of an unbeaten league campaign.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining focus and never underestimating opponents, especially in high-stakes matches like the Champions League.
