Vitinha hailed Ousmane Dembele as a "true leader" as Paris Saint-Germain prepare to face Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Dembele had a stellar individual campaign last season, helping PSG to the treble – including a first-ever Champions League title – while scooping the Ballon d'Or for his performances.

He has impressed again this term, sitting top of PSG's scoring charts with 16 goals from 11.9 expected goals (xG) despite playing just 34 games in total, including the Club World Cup.

Dembele also boasts the best minutes per goal (109.1) among PSG players and has the best shot conversion rate of any player to score more than once (22.5%).

The Frenchman also has nine assists, a tally only bettered by Vitinha (11) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (10), while Bradley Barcola (73) has created more chances than his 66.

Earlier this season, Dembele publicly called out his PSG team-mates following a 3-1 loss to Rennes in Ligue 1, but Vitinha was full of praise for the 28-year-old for his attitude.

"Ousmane has always been a leader, even last season," he said in a pre-match press conference.

"When you see what he does on the pitch, what he brings to the team, he transmits that to all his team-mates. He is even more of a leader since the Ballon d'Or, but it's something that comes naturally to him.

"He knows how to speak when it's required; he's a true leader."

PSG are unbeaten in their last seven knockout stage matches in the Champions League (W6 D1) and could equal the longest run by a French side in the competition if they avoid defeat against Liverpool (eight by Lyon – April 2004-March 2006).

They are also unbeaten in their last six games against English sides in the competition (W5 D1) and have progressed from all four of their knockout stage ties against English opponents since the start of last season (versus Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Chelsea).