Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain will face each other tomorrow night in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at Villa Park. PSG, who won the first leg 3-1, hope to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Ousmane Dembele, PSG’s top scorer this season, said: “We are not here to speculate but to win. We will play our game and we are here to win. I hope we can do that tomorrow.”

What kind of scenario do you expect?
Aston Villa will put us under pressure. They will have to attack more. As I said, we are not here to speculate—we want to advance.

What explains your excellent form in 2025?
I think it’s due to my position as a number 9. I’m more alert in front of goal now. But the work is done by the midfielders, defenders, and wingers. I’m well-fed and just have to finish the job.

How does it feel to be a leader in this team?
Leader? I don’t know if I am, but I think I’m one of the key players. I enjoy this role and I’m in good form. I try to help my teammates, both younger and older, and be a role model for them.

Big players shine in big games. Is scoring a goal your target?
My goal is to make an impact. But I’d sign for the same scorers as in the first leg to score tomorrow. I’m aware that big players are seen in such important matches.

In four potential matches until the final, you could win the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.
There’s still a long way to go in these competitions, and what motivates me most is the team aspect. Winning a title, especially the Champions League, would be amazing, but we’ll take it step by step.

Bradley Barcola has registered many assists recently. Do you think he’s the most complete player in the team?
Yes, clearly he can do everything. He can score, dribble, and assist. He’s having a great season, and we’re very proud of Barcola. He’s a young player but proves he can play for Paris Saint-Germain.

What’s your relationship with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?
We welcomed him very well. We joke around—he’s someone who jokes a lot beneath his shy appearance, and we also give each other a lot of advice.

What impresses you most about Desire Doue?
I knew him from Rennes. He’s full of talent and will improve a lot. He’s very mature and professional. We encourage Doue to keep working hard. What impresses me most is his professionalism at this age (19).

You’ve played for big clubs like Barcelona and Dortmund. Is this the best team you’ve been part of?
Yes, I’ve played in good teams, and Rennes was also good. I don’t know if this is the best, but I played at Barcelona with Lionel Messi, the best player in history. But this is one of the teams I enjoy playing for the most.