Sat May 31 20:30:00 UTC 2025: **Headline: Rennes Academy Celebrates as Dembélé and Doué Lead PSG to Champions League Final**
**Munich, Germany – May 31, 2025** – Tonight, two stars of Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, will take the field in Munich for the Champions League final against Inter Milan. What makes this match particularly special is the shared history of these two players: both were forged in the youth academy of Stade Rennais.
Pierre-Emmanuel Bourdeau, currently assistant coach at Red Star, had the unique opportunity to coach both Dembélé and Doué during his tenure at Rennes from 2008 to 2024. He reflects on their time at the academy, highlighting their exceptional talent and the challenges of nurturing their potential.
“You knew Ousmane was going to be a very, very good player,” Bourdeau said, recalling Dembélé’s early days. “The question was always if he would reach this level in a big club. But he was already perceived as a player with strong potential and likely to have an exceptional career.” He describes Dembélé as having an “innate talent,” a sentiment echoed when speaking about Doué. “He was the best player of his generation, and among the players born in 2005, the level was very high at Rennes. It’s not surprising that he is where he is.”
Bourdeau emphasizes the delicate balance required to nurture such talent. “The difficulty is finding the balance between letting them express their exceptional talent and ensuring they can also be part of a team.” He notes Dembélé’s current ability to combine individual brilliance with a strong work ethic on defense.
While both players possessed immense skill, their approaches to development differed. Bourdeau notes that Dembélé initially required a more structured environment, while Doué was driven by a strong family support system and a quick understanding of the importance of athletic training.
Now, both Dembélé and Doué stand on the precipice of the most important match of their club careers. Bourdeau expresses his pride and joy, stating, “I am above all very happy for them. There is pride because we are all very happy to have had them in our training paths. They are boys who have been very important to the training center. I am also proud to have had boys with exceptional talent, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, we maybe see one of them pass by every ten years!”
This final is a testament to the Rennes academy and its ability to produce world-class talent. As Dembélé and Doué step onto the field, they carry with them the hopes and dreams of their former coaches and the entire Rennes community.
First Piper 