2023-10-09 15:54:30
The start of the day was hectic at Clairefontaine. Before appearing before the press at the start of the afternoon, Didier Deschamps noted the withdrawals of two of his defenders for this gathering where the Blues must face the Netherlands (Friday October 13) and Scotland (Tuesday 17). Dayot Upamecano and Jules Koundé out, the coach summoned Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto. Already the day before, he had had to do without William Saliba, replacing Jean-Clair Todibo. Faced with journalists, the coach returned to his failures, mentioned the case of Paul Pogba or that of Kylian Mbappé who has been out of goal recently.
What are the reasons why William Saliba had to give up this gathering with the France team?
DIDIER DESCHAMPS. He has a chronic problem (Editor’s note: with his big toe). He already had it with us last month and it’s not getting better. He needs specific care to be done to remove this significant pain. Having exchanged with him after the announcement of the list, I made the decision to leave him. The option of having specific care should allow him to put an end to the worries he has had for several weeks, several months.
After confirmation that Paul Pogba’s B sample was positive, his coach in Turin speaks of him in the past tense. And you ?
I don’t think so, having heard Allegri talk about it in the past tense. Allegri is especially very sad for Paul, as I am too, a lot of things have been falling on his head lately. He finds himself in a complicated situation. He will defend himself. He will need to defend himself, it will be part of a long procedure. He finds himself in a complicated situation. He will defend himself. He will need to defend himself, it will be part of a long procedure.
Is his career in blue over?
I cannot answer this question. I’m not going to have a categorical position. I don’t know what his future will hold. Even though he hasn’t been with us for a while, it’s put on hold. I hope for him that he will find a smile again, full possession of his means, that he will find the field again, but it will take some time.
“Coman?” He’s not missing anything.”
Have you defined a hierarchy between your leading attackers (Kolo Muani, Thuram, Giroud)?
The hierarchy is evolving, it is not because there is one who will score three goals and another who does not score that the one who scored three will become number one. The profile of the players also comes into play, even if that does not prevent us from continuing to perform well. Olivier is still 37 years old, which requires his club coach to manage him. He has some playing time with Milan but he plays few full matches. The choice is more about the profile in relation to the opponent. Olivier and Marcus have similar profiles, Kolo has a different profile. If we have an opponent with a very low block in the area, this can lead to another choice. It is always with the aim of being more dangerous for the opponent.
Kingsley Coman just scored two goals before this rally. What is he missing to be as decisive for club as for national team?
Coman is doing very well at the moment. He is a player who is relatively effective, he lacks nothing, he has been there for many years. If he is there it is because he is capable of being a starter. The competition is strong, I’m not going to complain about having these options.
Kylian Mbappé has just had a special week and a final match in Rennes where he missed a few opportunities. Can this move to the French team allow him to restart the machine?
I’m going to speak with Kylian. He’s not in a period of efficiency, for a player like him, that shows a little more. On the opportunity he has on Sunday, he knows it very well, during the match he is available mobile, in the repetition of efforts. Everything he experienced during this summer, and this hellish pace with a match every three days also gives him the right to this period where he is a little less well. He has a smile, he is happy to be there.
For this gathering, you called Malo Gusto; can you tell us about him?
He is a very young player, but with this ability to play in this position, he played as a corridor player, he also plays as a full-back, already in Lyon he had shown great things. At Chelsea he is with greater competition. He has areas of improvement and progression to explore, with good offensive capacity. He is very fast. He needs to improve defensively but he catches a lot of shots. We find ourselves with a young player who is already at Chelsea, with potential which suggests progression in the months to come.
The 2030 World Cup will be played on three continents with the first three matches in South America before being contested between Morocco, Spain and Portugal. What do you think ?
Beyond the fact that it is a trend, the organization in several countries, there is still the particularity of having these three matches on the South American continent. I don’t know which countries will be affected, that means that the South American teams will have an advantage, and then the others will have to move and then move again… I don’t know who makes the decisions but I won’t hide the fact that I I like things a little more coherent on a sporting and ethical level, but I don’t think we’re there yet.
For this gathering, there are three packages in defense (Upamecano, Saliba, Koundé), isn’t that a little complicated to manage?
These are the hazards. As is often the case, when there are packages that add up, it is often in the same sector. This is the case. It’s not ideal, I prefer to have everyone available with automation, but it gives the opportunity to see other players.
Sunday evening, the French rugby team plays its World Cup quarter-final against South Africa. Will the Blues go to the Stade de France to support them?
No, there is nothing planned. Lille is far away, and we have a match on Tuesday. We will be fully behind the XV of France, after which I am not saying no, but it is not ideal all the same. I will work on Tuesday’s match. As much as the other time there were enough days between the two matches, this time it is not the same configuration.
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