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'I'm very emotional and passionate'- Jorge Sampaoli explains why he said Ousmane Dembele 'plays like an autistic' in bizarre rant at France and PSG star

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain

Auxerre

<p><a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/jorge-sampaoli-issues-apology-after-saying-france-psg-star-ousmane-dembele-plays-like-an-autistic/blt3ba8681300a8d8da#cs24f2df8186a4833b" target="_blank">Sampaoli apologised last summer after claiming that Dembele "plays like an autistic" at Euro 2024</a>. The former Argentina boss claimed that Dembele "only has the ability to make himself shine" but, at the time, he appeared to realise he had made an unacceptable comment.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Now, though, Sampaoli has re-litigated the issue, claiming that he expressed himself badly, but he has again claimed Dembele is too selfish. In a rather confusing explanation, the manager has also claimed the Paris Saint-Germain star is capable of being one of the best players in the world.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Sampaoli said to <a href="https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/sampaoli-barca-llevaria-pedri-extraordinario-117004091" target="_blank"><em>Sport</em></a>: "I was very bad at expressing myself. I'm very emotional and passionate, and all I wanted to say was that Dembele isn't an association player. He looks at his opponents and the goal much more than his team-mates. For me, he's one of the best in the world, but in a context like Barca's, where association is necessary, he isolates himself and doesn't perform as well. He plays his game, he does it very well, but I attach a lot of importance to authority and association football."</p>

WHAT JORGE SAMPAOLI SAID

<p>PSG face Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Dembele scored the only goal in the first leg, giving the French side a 1-0 lead for the second leg at Parc des Princes.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

'I'm very emotional and passionate'- Jorge Sampaoli explains why he said Ousmane Dembele 'plays like an autistic' in bizarre rant at France and PSG star | Goal.com

Jorge Sampaoli has attempted to explain his comment in which he claimed Ousmane Dembele &quot;plays like an autistic&quot; person. 

&apos;I&apos;m very emotional and passionate&apos;- Jorge Sampaoli explains why he said Ousmane Dembele &apos;plays like an autistic&apos; in bizarre rant at France and PSG star

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