This Italy – France had a double symbolic value for Adrien Rabiot: it marked the return of “Duke» in the country which adopted him in 2019 before his return to France this summer, but it was also a milestone since it was his 50th start in the tricolor jersey, his first since the lost Euro semi-final against Spain this summer. Was he making it a party anyway? Probably not, but his match spoke for him this evening: a double header (his 5th and 6th goals for the Blues), and an XXL performance which should dispel doubts about his state of form.
“It’s been a long time since we had a match like that, since we hadn’t fought like this together, until the end. We also aimed to win with a two-goal margin (to be guaranteed to finish first in the group), and we did it. But frankly, the mutual assistance there was in this match, the fighting spirit, the team spirit, must be highlighted. We had fun playing this match. I spent a lot of time in Italy. San Siro is a stadium that suits me, it was my first goal against AC Milan at the time. So good memories yes”he smiled modestly at the microphone of TF1without wanting to pull too many covers, because that’s not the character.
He will give Deschamps headaches
Obviously, this successful return of Rabiot should give Didier Deschamps a few knots in his brain for March, provided that the ex-Turin player is also able to ride this good club dynamic, he who incidentally became the first Marseillais to score a double in Blues since a certain Jean-Pierre Papin. “Rabiot? Beyond the two goals, he is in his natural position. I made sure that all the players were in their positions”Deschamps was content at the microphone of TF1 to salute the performance of his player.
A man of few words, Rabiot recalled with his match how fundamental he had become for this team since the 2022 World Cup. Credited with an 8 on our site, the 29-year-old inherited the best French rating with Lucas Digne, and obviously emerges as one of the big winners of this last gathering of the year. Aurélien Tchouameni, N’Golo Kanté, Eduardo Camavinga, Manu Koné, Matteo Guendouzi, Warren Zaire-Emery and co know it: places risk being doubly expensive in the middle.
