Ousmane Dembele s struggles for fitness and form at Barcelona are deservedly coming right at the perfect time, according to team-mate Clement Lenglet.
Barca looked set to be held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Real Valladolid on Monday before Dembele volleyed a 90th-minute winner – victory closing Ronald Koeman s side to within a point of leaders Atletico Madrid with nine games of the LaLiga season remaining.
Since moving to Camp Nou from Borussia Dortmund for an initial €105million in 2017, the 23-year-old France winger has been beset by injury problems.
But Dembele has become an increasingly integral member of Koeman s team since the turn of the year, forming a fruitful attacking alliance with Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann was substituted against Valladolid and Messi was frustrated by former team-mate Jordi Masip in the visitors goal, leaving Dembele to step forward as the hero.
It doesn t surprise me, Lenglet told LaLiga TV. He couldn t play a lot of games because of injuries and now it looks like everything is calm in that respect.
When he is physically well he s a very good dribbler, he s got two good feet, a lot of speed. He gives us a lot.
I m very happy for him because he s worked hard for this and he deserves it.
THIS IS THE WAY.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Dembele was also involved in the game s other key moment, when Valladolid midfielder Oscar Plano was sent off for bring him down in the 79th minute.
Although Plano s challenge was unquestionably cynical, the red card came as a surprise to his team-mates.
Nevertheless, Lenglet felt the punishment fitted the crime.
The red card was [decided] very quick, he said. Ousmane took a very hard foul from behind, that s why the ref sanctioned him in that way.
I think the card is deserved because of the foul from behind.
Next up for Barcelona is a crunch Clasico clash at Real Madrid on Saturday, with their bitter rivals two points behind them in third as an intriguing title race reaches boiling point.
It s proved this league is very difficult. We’ve got to fight to win every game, Lenglet added.
It s the fruit of our hard work these results. We ve worked very hard in these last few months, things are going better for us but there s a long way to go.
