The Blues have been back at Clairefontaine since Monday to prepare for the two Nations League matches that they will play on October 10 and 14, respectively against Israel and Belgium. For this gathering, Didier Deschamps has a new problem to solve since he must do without his former vice-captain, Antoine Griezmann, who announced his international retirement a week ago, and Kylian Mbappé whom he did not summon due to (alleged) injury. The coach will therefore have to find two new managers.
In a video posted today by the French Football Federation, Didier Deschamps dwelled on this subject at length and explained how he would choose his new interim captain. “It’s in my head, obviously, but as I do every time, the important thing is to be able to discuss it with the players who may be concerned. Obviously, with the absence of Kylian, captain, and Antoine who was vice-captain, at these two gatherings, there will inevitably be others. »
Lack of crippling experience?
Careful not to leak any information or even a clue, the French coach continued: “It can be a momentary responsibility, between the players who can be. But there are many players who can also be leaders without necessarily having the captain’s armband. »
However, one point should at least make the difference:
“The lack of experience or experience does not go in the right direction, but despite everything (…) beyond seniority which is not necessarily a determining criterion for me, it is more the capacity that can having some people have this responsibility at the moment, without it changing their behavior and their performance. That’s mostly it. »
Didier Deschamps also intends to rely on the knowledge of his group to make his choice. “Hence the importance for me of knowing the players well on a human level, their character, their sensitivity in relation to the group who are there at this gathering. » It is therefore completely unclear who will wear the armband. Mike Maignan could be the chosen one.
