Jerome Rothen Strikes Back : Pundit Defends Ousmane Dembele After France Criticism

Speaking on RMC, Jérôme Rothen moved to cool the media storm surrounding the French winger. The pundit highlighted the legitimacy of Ousmane Dembélé‘s 2025 Ballon d’Or triumph. In his view, no player reaches such heights by accident. Despite a string of underwhelming displays, the former Paris player refuses to write him off. He firmly backs the 29-year-old forward, who boasts 71 caps and 13 goals, to rediscover his very best form.

That measured stance mirrors the approach taken by national team manager Zinédine Zidane. The coach also publicly defended his winger in the press. Following a convincing 4-1 win over Belgium on Monday, October 5, 2026 in the Nations League, he continues to place full trust in him. The turning point in that match underlined the collective strength of Les Bleus. This protective environment buys the Paris Saint-Germain star crucial time to silence the doubters.

The pundit’s supportive stance does not prevent a clear-eyed assessment of the current form of Ousmane Dembélé. Jérôme Rothen openly admitted that the forward’s start to the season falls short of his usual high standards. The former Paris Saint-Germain player believes the winger failed to score points during this international break. He will have to show a completely different side in November 2026 with the France national team.

On the pitch, expectations remain just as high for the upcoming challenges with Paris Saint-Germain. Between the tactical demands of Zinédine Zidane with Les Bleus and the massive fixtures awaiting the Parisian club, the attacker must swiftly rediscover his typical cutting edge. His standing as a world-class attacking reference demands an immediate response to lead the Parisian frontline toward its major goals.