France Boss Didier Deschamps Hints at Ousmane Dembele Attitude Problem After Controversial Weekend

France manager Didier Deschamps has stuck the boot into Ousmane Dembele in a tough week for the Barcelona forward, insisting that the youngster must become more professional to forge a career at the highest level.

Dembele was left out of Barca's squad to face Real Betis this weekend after missing training with a 'stomach bug', failing to inform the club that he was feeling unwell, before training alone on Friday. 

Ernesto Valverde insisted that he did not leave Dembele out of his matchday squad for Sunday's dramatic 4-3 defeat to Quique Setien's Betis to make a point, but France manager Deschamps hinted in a press conference on Monday that the 21-year-old's behaviour has been sub-par for some time. 

Quoted by ESPN, he said: "Ousmane has been with us for a while. That's his usual trick to be late, although in his defence I'm sure he'll say: 'I'm not the only one.' Whether he's at a big club like Barcelona, with the French national team or somewhere else, he has to pay attention to that. It's part of the life and requirements of a professional footballer.

"He must improve to prevent it from becoming negative. These are situations that [have been] repeated. The sooner he understands that, the better for everyone."

Dembele's complaints of a 'stomach bug' bring to mind comments made a few years ago by Barca legend Xavi, who said: “In football circles, complaining of having a ‘stomach bug’ sounds like an excuse. It usually means there’s something else going on. When you hear someone has gastroenteritis you immediately think, there’s more to it that that."