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Dembélé's Determination Fuels PSG's Champions League Push Against Chelsea

ESPN Soccer •
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Ussain Dembélé insists PSG won't ease off Chelsea in Tuesday's Champions League second leg despite their 5-2 first-leg win, aiming to build on his career-best 35-goal season. The French forward, who missed 14 matches due to calf and hamstring injuries, scored a stunning solo goal in the opening match and declared himself 'even more determined' to win another trophy with PSG this season, which also includes the World Cup. 'I like to get on the ball a lot,' Dembélé stated, emphasizing his desire to score or assist in every game, a mentality he believes is crucial for success in Europe's premier competition. PSG manager Luis Enrique echoed this sentiment, warning that the three-goal lead is not insurmountable and stressing the impossibility of easing up against a Chelsea side that has struggled in the Premier League.

Enrique pointed to PSG's near-collapse against Aston Villa in last season's quarterfinals as a stark reminder of the competition's demands, a lesson Dembélé reinforced, citing the team's resilience as key to overcoming any comeback. However, PSG faces a squad selection dilemma, with Enrique needing to choose between starting star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who scored twice in the first leg, or dropping Désiré Doué or Bradley Barcola, despite Kvaratskhelia's form making him hard to drop.