Scalded by the demands of certain players, Didier Deschamps did not hesitate to send a message during this gathering.
It was at the start of the rally. The tone was calm, as usual. But the speech was clear. And at the dawn of a season that sounds like a new era, it felt like a little reframing. In recent years, several players on the France team have not hesitated to express their preferences for a particular position. This is the case of Benjamin Pavard, central defender by trade, but revealed – and often used – on the right in the France team.
Pavard’s replacement in Qatar during the last World Cup, Jules Koundé, is in the same situation. And expresses the same wishes. A posture which annoyed the Blues coach, who did not hesitate to reveal his thoughts.
Deschamps raises his voice with Pavard and Koundé
“ Players are versatile, and it all depends on the systems. I know very well that “Benji” also aspires to evolve in the center, perhaps not only, even if this will be a little more the case at Inter, in a system with three central defenders. But then there are the needs of the France team. I have known some, not the least, who can play in the center and on the side. This also applies to Jules Koundé », Thundered Didier Deschamps, referring in particular to the man who occupied the position of right back during his first life as a player in the France team, Lilian Thuram.
Deschamps even went further by saying that competition remained significant in this position. A more questionable observation, in fact. “ When I call them into the French team, it’s first for the right-back position. If that changed, I would think about it, because there are people… “.
One thing is certain: this new gathering has once again highlighted the major difficulties of the Blues in this right-back position. Because if Benjamin Pavard, who had few minutes in his legs following his transfer to Inter Milan, could not really show off against Germany (1-2), Jules Koundé did not was more to its advantage a few days earlier against Ireland (2-0).
