Didier Deschamps played down the absence of Kylian Mbappé from France’s pre-match press conference, emphasizing his priority to protect his players amid political scrutiny back home.
Mbappé’s absence and Deschamps’ stance
Speaking on the eve of France’s Group I opener against Senegal, Deschamps was asked about Mbappé not attending the press conference, with N’Golo Kanté speaking instead. Deschamps denied any link to Mbappé’s recent interview or public remarks, but stated: “My priority is to protect my players.”
Mbappé, who has faced criticism from figures like Michel Platini for his opposition to far-right politics, remains a global superstar. Deschamps noted: “Kylian is Kylian. He manages himself. The younger generation, and even the less young, love him everywhere in the world, but that doesn’t mean he’s not normal when he plays and when he’s in the group.”
Managing expectations for Dembélé and the team
Deschamps also addressed Ousmane Dembélé, another key player, lowering expectations by highlighting physical and psychological factors for his potential start against Senegal. “If he’s at his top level it will be a plus for the French squad,” Deschamps said.
France enters the tournament as defending champions, but Deschamps aims to reduce the favorites tag. “France has the ability to win … but so do six or seven other nations. The way there is going to be hard,” he remarked.
With only four players remaining from the 2018 World Cup-winning squad, including Mbappé and Kanté, Deschamps is focused on balancing individual brilliance with team cohesion.
