Didier Deschamps wanted to make things easier. While the controversies continue around Kylian Mbappé, notably due to his escapade in Sweden in October when he had wanted to skip the gathering of the French team, the French coach has in fact decided to deprive itself of the services of its star player for the next two Nations League matches against Israel and Italy.
“I had several discussions with him, I thought about it and I made this decision about this gathering. I think it’s better like this, simply justified the national coach. I’m not going to argue, I can tell you two things: Kylian wanted to come and it’s not linked to extra-sporting problems which only come into play from the moment the presumption of innocence exists. It’s a timely choice for this gathering with the two matches awaiting us. » A one-off choice that could have long-term consequences.
The standoff between Didier Deschamps and Kylian Mbappé continues
Because according to Relevo, the Real Madrid striker would have had difficulty accepting this decision from the French coach, the former Parisian experiencing this non-selection as a disavowal. If he still holds the former midfielder in high esteem, this sequence risks leaving its mark. And all the more so since after a gloomy Euro, the last gathering of the Blues was marked in September by the reproaches made by the Bondynois against Didier Deschamps and his staff.
Questioned the day before by Mike Maignan when the Blues were in trouble against Italy, he did not hesitate to point out the lack of tactical work carried out to prepare for the match against the Nazionale. Reproaches poorly received by Didier Descamps. “He said to himself that he could start a showdown with Deschamps on the theme ‘I am the boss’. And he will lose because Deschamps is a political savvy,” had also warned the journalist Gilles Verdez. Despite the reassuring words of the Blues coach, the standoff continues.