Two months after their elimination against Spain (2-1), in the semi-final of a Euro they were aiming for, the Blues are back in business. This week, Didier Deschamps unveiled his first list of the season for the two Nations League matches against Italy on September 6 and Belgium on the 9th. There have been a few changes: Michael Olise and Manu Koné have been called up for the first time, Wesley Fofana has made his return to the Blues, while Benjamin Pavard has been left out, for reasons different from Adrien Rabiot (lacking rhythm and without a club). Of course, they will also now have to do without Olivier Giroud, who retired after 13 years of good and loyal service.
Invited to comment on the hot topics of the blue news, Didier Deschamps did not mince his words. On Telefoothe first mentioned the failure of the Euro, (which he does not consider entirely a failure), hammering home that a combination of events had not favored the success of his team: “The disappointment is there, yes, we had the ambition to meet again on July 14 (the day of the final), and we hoped for more. But could we have done more at the time? We had to manage individual situations with players who arrived injured, with questions. Obviously Kylian’s injury is an important fact, and it necessarily handicapped him“, stressed the French coach.
No extension for the moment
Given the equipment at hand, Didier Deschamps was inevitably expected by the French supporters. However, emotions were rarer than among our Spanish and German neighbours.If we provided less emotion than Spain or Germany? The fans are disappointed like us, but there were emotions, we don’t get to the semi-finals by snapping our fingers. It seems like it’s the bare minimum, I’m not going to run away from reality either, because in the offensive animation, obviously we weren’t at our best. But that didn’t stop us from being dangerous, even if we could have been more so.» Also questioned about possible discussions for an extension at the head of the Blues, Deschamps indicated that it was not on the agenda.
“Yes, 13th season at the head of the Blues, but if I’m here, it’s because I want to be, I’m not continuing just to continue. Yes, I took stock at the end of July with the president. We discussed, analyzed, and it’s normal that I give him my feelings, because he’s the decision-maker. An extension mentioned? No, it’s not on the agenda, I have a contract until 2026“, he recalled. From the general to the particular, he therefore ended by evoking Kylian Mbappé and his Madrid adventure, but also the new French face, Michael Olise: “Mbappé managed to score with Real Madrid against Atalanta, but we expect a lot from him, as always, and of course it doesn’t happen with the snap of a finger. I know him, he will do everything to make sure things go as well as possible in Madrid. As for Olise, he could have been with us from the Euro, but now he has changed status again with the Bayern stage, he will have everything to be at the highest level, but will still have stages to overcome.” It could start on Friday, against Italy, with a first cap for the Blues.
