Although tongues are increasingly loosened, the question of the mental health of football players remains a sensitive subject. In addition to the Kylian Mbappé case which is making a lot of noise – the French striker is in depression, according to certain sources -, Bixente Lizarazu returned to the Pep Guardiola case.
After Manchester City’s draw in the Champions League against Feyenoord (3-3), the Mancunian coach deliberately slashed his face. An image that has made the rounds on social networks, but which is no laughing matter, according to Lizarazu. The 98 world champion believes that if the former Barça coach has reached this point, there is undoubtedly a psychological problem brewing. “ This week, he slashed his face after a match. It is a sign of immense mental suffering, he explained in an interview with
Parisian. That football brings you to this is a huge problem. But there are still blockages. »
Lizarazu: “This is an area that needs to be looked at a lot more”
The TF1 consultant then returned to the situation of Kylian Mbappé, at his worst for several months. “ Recently, I encouraged Didier Deschamps to recognize that Kylian Mbappé had mental health problems, he recalled. Some of the reactions were: with the money he earns, he has no right to complain. Money certainly doesn’t solve these kinds of problems. And sometimes he even creates them. »
Bixente Lizarazu now wants the subject of mental health of those involved in football, and all sports in general, to be tackled head on. “ This is an area that needs to be looked at a lot more than is currently being done.asked “Liza”. We have overlooked it for too long in high-level sport, because you had to be a high-performance machine without showing any flaws. »
