What Xavi Says About Dembele Continuous ‘Outstanding Form’

Following a “lethal” Copa del Rey performance for Barcelona against Real Sociedad, Xavi has praised Ousmane Dembele as one of the best players in the world.

In Wednesday’s quarterfinal match, Barcelona defeated Sociedad 1-0 thanks to an outstanding performance from the French forward.

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After 52 minutes, Dembele beat Alex Remiro at his near post to give Barcelona the lead after sprinting down the right channel and latching onto a brilliantly weighted cross from Jules Kounde.

It was his third goal for the Liga leaders in six games, and Xavi argued that he has finally “matured” to the point where he can make the difference in crucial games.

“I think Dembele has matured a lot since we took over. We have just given him the tools. He is lethal. We always say when he comes inside, he has to shoot more because he has that quality and he can make the difference in games,” Xavi told reporters after the match.

“You see the faces of the full-backs, they suffer. We have just given him confidence. He has so much potential. I believe in him. I think a lot of this comes down to making the right decisions. He is also enjoying himself and the fans are enjoying him.”

Under Xavi this season, Dembele has found his greatest form, totaling eight goals and seven assists in 27 games.

He made headlines earlier in January when he scored against Atletico Madrid, and he now seems to have put his previous injury issues in the background.

Xavi added, “I am delighted for him because he is a good guy and a good professional. He has turned things around and that is not easy at Barca.

“He’s the one full of confidence and quality. We try to guide him. For me, he is one of the best in the world in his position. He has so much quality, but from there you have to believe in yourself. At Barca, it’s important to have that mentality to believe that you can influence games.”

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When Barcelona travels to Girona in La Liga on Saturday, the attacker will look to maintain his strong run of play.