SUMMARY
- FC Barcelona faced PSG for the UEFA Champions League and Barcelona won by 3-2 in the first leg.
- Ousmane Dembele's celebration after scoring against FC Barcelona in the Champions League didn't sit well with Barcelona supporters.
FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has finally opened up on Ousmane Dembele’s potential reception by the club supporters ahead of the Champions League quarterfinals second leg. In what was an enthralling first leg in Paris, FC Barcelona managed to get a hard-fought 3-2 victory. However, when the PSG reaches the Montjuic Stadium in Barcelona for the return leg, Dembele is in for a harsh night.
Ousmane Dembele’s unexpected celebration after scoring against his former club, FC Barcelona, in the first leg of their Champions League clash hasn’t gone down well at all with the Barcelona supporters. Dembele, who was one of the best players for PSG in the first leg, scored the first goal and also came close to scoring another after his shot hit the post.
While most fans were expecting Dembele to not celebrate after scoring against his former club as a mark of respect, the PSG forward did quite the unexpected. The French international raced near the stands where the traveling FC Barcelona supporters were seated and celebrated right in front of their faces. Although, coach Xavi Hernandez revealed that he isn’t holding any grudge against his former star.
• Ousmane Dembélé’s reception at Montujic?
🚨🎙️| Xavi: “Let the fans show what they feel.” pic.twitter.com/feoY8Qwufc
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) April 15, 2024
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Xavi refused to further exaggerate the incident and simply said, “Let people show what they feel.” Moreover, the Spaniard further admitted that Dembele’s exit from the club last year “tasted bad” to him. All in all, the soccer fans are in for a treat as PSG takes on FC Barcelona in the Spanish city on Tuesday in what will be a clash of the titans.
Ousmane Dembele gets a hint of the ‘Luis Figo treatment’ awaiting him
Meanwhile, PSG star Ousmane Dembele has already received an idea of what is in store for him on his return to Barcelona. The PSG team was pictured arriving at Barcelona a few hours ago today. As several fans gathered around the airport, the hostility among the supporters was already visible as Dembele arrived at the PSG team’s hotel in the city.
Ousmane Dembele Was Insulted Upon His Arrival At PSG’s Hotel In Spain Ahead Of Their Game Against Barcelona On Tuesday Night.
The Frenchman Celebrated When He Scored Against His Former Club In The First League Fixture.
🎥 Mundo Deportivo pic.twitter.com/vG2RLRWh5b
— Deen Senior (@deensnr) April 15, 2024
There have also been talks of Ousmane Dembele receiving the ‘Luis Figo treatment’ when he takes on his former club tomorrow night. The ‘Luis Figo treatment’ refers to how the former FC Barcelona star Luis Figo was treated back in 2002 by the Catalan club supporters on his first return to Camp Nou after signing with Real Madrid.
While thousands of fans jeered at Figo for the entirety of the match, several objects were thrown on the pitch. Each time Figo stood near the touchlines or went to take a corner kick, security personnel with barricades had to guard the Real Madrid star. However, even with the riot police present to control the situation, the fans managed to throw a severed pig’s head at Figo as a mark of hatred the fans felt for their former star.
Throw back to when Luis Figo returned to the Nou Camp with Real Madrid. They literally threw a pig’s head at him. pic.twitter.com/EOIXflMWet
— FanLeague (@fanleague) April 11, 2017
While things have changed nowadays and a pig’s head being thrown at Ousmane Dembele is highly unlikely, the PSG star should prepare himself for a tough night when he reaches the Montjuic Stadium. There is no doubt that the FC Barcelona supporters would do their best to make sure Dembele experiences one of the most uncomfortable nights of his life in what will be a nerve-racking second leg.