France will host Italy in the third match of the UEFA Nations League group stage on October 3 at 02:45 CET (Beijing time). Ahead of the match, French forward Dembele attended a press conference. This article covers the second half of the press conference.

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Hello Ousmane, the head coach seems very keen to see you play in the No. 9 position. So how can you maintain the same high level for the French national team as No. 9 as you do for PSG?

The situation is actually very similar. As I mentioned, he gives me a lot of freedom. And whether at PSG or with the French national team, I have very talented teammates around me. During matches, we often switch positions with each other – whether with Michael (Olise), Bradley (Barcola), or Désiré (Diouf) – we have great fluidity and freedom in the attacking line.

As always, I aim to give everything and put in 100% effort to show a high level of performance. I know I need to provide assists and score goals, and that's what's interesting and what I'm focused on. But yes, I have complete freedom with the French team, and I'm very comfortable and enjoy this team; I enjoy the happiness that football brings.

Hello Ousmane, following up on my colleague's earlier question – seeing you now occupy a central attacking position in the French national team is undoubtedly a very strong signal. Can you explain to us how Zinedine Zidane initially told you about this positional change? Does this new position on the pitch mean you're now shouldering additional responsibility for Les Bleus?

Speaking about responsibility, it hasn't increased much. I'm naturally competitive, so I aspire to perform at a high level in every match. Besides, as the head coach mentioned in his interview, he wants to see all his players play in their favourite positions. Therefore, he assigned me to play as a centre-forward, which is also the position I play most frequently at PSG. Of course, I can also play on the right wing, which doesn't bother me at all. As I always emphasize, what matters most is maintaining a high performance level and playing quality matches, especially by doing my best to help the entire team.

Hello Ousmane, you and Désiré Diouf have known each other for years. How do you see his growth and development? How would you explain the occasional inconsistencies he shows? For instance, three days ago in Brussels, he played brilliantly and outstandingly, but sometimes things can be relatively more challenging. You've also experienced similar phases in your career. How do you view this phenomenon? What's your overall macro assessment of his future development?

He has developed very well, starting from... even during his time at Rennes, he already had several fantastic and valuable seasons. He joined PSG at age 20, scored in the Champions League final, and played many high-level matches. For us at PSG, he's a crucial player, and I believe his growth and progress have been phenomenal, extraordinary, and remarkable.

Of course, in a very long season where we play almost 80 matches a year, it's normal for performance to fluctuate. However, his overall growth trajectory is remarkable; he trains hard and diligently, and for his age, he's very mentally mature. He's a great team player who genuinely wants to help the team. For me, what matters most is maintaining this positive professional attitude. As for his future and career prospects, I'm confident they will certainly be bright and promising.

Hello Ousmane, almost all of you, including the most senior national team players, have spent your entire national team careers under Didier Deschamps' coaching. This is undoubtedly a major change. For us in the media, seeing nine changes to the starting lineup in the second match, with three new players making their national team debuts, this is a drastic change compared to Deschamps' coaching style. Were there any changes that surprised you? Is it really a complete overhaul compared to the model you were used to before?

There are indeed some changes, but we can't reveal all our internal secrets. However, the coach has specifically explained this. He wants to evaluate every player; all 23 selected players are equally important to him and to the entire team. Especially since we just played against Turkey last Friday and then had to play again on Monday, the schedule is very tight, so it's important for all players to have playing opportunities.

Giving full confidence to the entire squad is very important because we have many high-quality and outstanding players. As you saw from the matches against Turkey and Belgium, every member needs to be trusted. As the head coach emphasized, he fully trusts these 23 players, and our team is full of great players.

Hello Ousmane, what kind of vice-captain are you? More seriously, when you wear this captain's armband and take on this role, do you push yourself to communicate and interact with your teammates more than usual?

I already talk quite a lot in front of my teammates! No, no, no – as I said, I'll remain myself, and I'll talk and chat with everyone. The team has undergone major changes recently, and there are many new faces who are being called up to the national team for the first time, but we already know each other – whether it's from the clubs we grew up in through youth academies, for example, players who developed through Rennes' excellent youth academy – or from interactions on and off the pitch. Therefore, for new players, this integration process happens very naturally. No, I remain myself, I don't want to change, and I will always be there to help my teammates.

Hello Ousmane, you've worked with two great coaches: Didier Deschamps and Luis Enrique. Now, with the French national team, given the great symbolic significance of Zinedine Zidane to French football, how does it feel to play under him?

It's an extraordinary pleasure; we're all very aware of the head coach's honourable status and the great achievements he's created in football history. For me, receiving guidance from a man as great as him is an unparalleled honour; he's an absolute legend. All I need to do is repay his trust with outstanding performances on the pitch. Yes, this is pure extraordinary happiness.

Hello Ousmane, everyone is very familiar with your outstanding technical skills and remarkable speed, but do you think your greatest and most significant improvement actually lies in your ability to read and understand the game?

Yes, this is a wonderful question that I really enjoy. In this regard, I have indeed learned a lot and made great progress. I played for Barcelona for four or five years, and there I witnessed many outstanding and top-class players, and one of them was almost perfect (referring to Messi). Therefore, I also aspire to be a versatile player – someone who can dribble and break through, provide accurate assists, and also score goals myself. Today, I have become the player I've always dreamed of being. Yes, this is indeed one of my core strengths now, even though it's not often praised publicly.

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