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This is a new earthquake in French football. For the second time in a row, Kylian Mbappé, captain of the France team, is not in Didier Deschamps’ list for the November gathering. A few weeks ago, we revealed to you that the Frenchman ideally only wanted to play important matches for the Blues to maximize his chances of being in good shape and thus winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or. And in this truce, France will face Israel and Italy in the League of Nations. Matches that Kylian Mbappé will not play, who continues to be talked about by his absence in the blue tunic. During the last break, the Madrid striker asked not to be called up, preferring to recover from a slight injury and rest after a summer without vacation.
As a result, he had started the weekend before the break (which had already raised eyebrows) and had especially hit the headlines with his agitated outing in Sweden. During the French team’s meeting, he was seen in a nightclub in Stockholm. Enough to call into question his argument of rest. And as if that wasn’t enough, he was cited in a sexual assault complaint that same evening. If since then, the matter has not particularly progressed, Kylian Mbappé still seems as disturbed on the football fields. In great difficulty with Real Madrid where he had a series of disappointing performances as number 9, the Bondynois failed to regain his former level.
An absence that calls out
And he will therefore not play this new international break with the France team. However, in recent hours, several media outlets agreed that he was going to make his return and that he had thus spoken with Didier Deschamps. The surprise was therefore even greater this Thursday at 2 p.m. when the list of the Blues coach was announced, who tried to justify this absence. “I had several exchanges with him. I thought about it and made this decision at this gathering. Because I think it’s better that way. I’m not going to argue. What I can tell you is that Kylian Mbappé wanted to come. And secondly, it is not the extra-sporting problems which come into account from the moment the presumption of innocence exists. It’s a timely choice for this gathering with the two matches that await us”first said DD, very uncomfortable at the idea of justifying this surprising absence.
The Blues coach, much less convincing than usual when explaining the situation, tried to quickly dodge the subject and give as little information as possible. “I know it will bounce back. I am not going to say more for the simple reason that we have a training course with two matches with a goal that I had set to give playing time to players who have less experience and who have given satisfaction at the last gathering. That’s what they’re there for. There is a dynamic, we must not forget it, we remain on three victories in a row. We want to ensure qualification and play for first place. I don’t want to argue. It’s my decision and I think it’s better this way. I am not going to get into an argument that leads to interpretations. I take responsibility for this decision. When did I take it? We can take it until 1:59 p.m., I can make changes before the announcement. But when I come before you, I have already decided. When I am here, I have already made the decision. Temporality doesn’t matter.”
Didier Deschamps uncomfortable
Raised for the umpteenth time on the subject, in particular on the precise reasons which pushed him to do without the captain of the France team, Didier Deschamps remained in his assumed position of giving no explanation. The Blues coach obviously wants to give as little opportunity as possible to fuel the debates. “He wanted to come, yes. I had discussions with him. I don’t want to get into that. You may have information, but I speak directly with Kylian. We can disagree, but it’s my responsibility to make the decisions. I made this decision at this gathering. Would I have taken it if it was a World Cup qualifying match? I don’t have the situation. Every moment has its own situation”said Deschamps before discussing his level of play at Real Madrid and his relationship with the main person concerned.
“Today that’s not the subject, after the performances, he joins a collective. Everyone will have their own analysis of what they do or what they don’t do, what they do well or less well. Regarding what can happen afterwards, it will be later. I am not going to ask myself a question that is not on the agenda. Each thing in its time. I know many people are commenting on his post. He has already done it before in Paris or in the French team (editor’s note: playing number 9), he has evolved in different systems. That’s always been the case. We talk about Kylian with all his qualities. He has scored goals and he will score more. He is in a period where he is less effective and he is judged on that (…) We may not agree on everything. These are discussions that I have with the players, individual interviews. I listen. I have always been nourished by these discussions. I’m not here to be told I’m beautiful or something. I’ve been here for a while. These exchanges are important to me and then I make decisions that seem to me to be the best”ended up concluding the 56-year-old coach. A press conference which risks causing a reaction and which seemed much less controlled by Didier Deschamps than usual.
