Barca coach Valverde optimistic about Dembele's future
It's been a difficult season for the France international
One of Ernesto Valverde's objectives this season was to get the best out of Ousmane Dembele. Injuries and a tough adaption period have made it tough for the former Borussia Dortmund forward to shine, but the Barcelona coach believes it is just a matter of time.
“Dembele’s a player that just got here,” Valverde said in a press conference on Tuesday. “He spent a long time injured and it’s not easy to play in Barcelona’s team. You need a lot of things. He has incredible talent, great technical ability, he’s quick, he unbalances defences… there are so many positives. But in defensive areas, for example, he has things to work on.
“We understand he’s young, though, and that he has had a difficult season. We hope that next season he will continue to develop, that’s the idea. We have high hopes for him.”
Remember that Dembele spent five months injured this season. Against Chelsea he scored the most important goal of his Barça career to date, although he's not been a regular in the final phase of the season. Against Real Madrid he didn't even come off the bench and a loan next season has been suggested. However, that's unlikely and Valverde hopes he will be an important player.
