Kylian Mbappé arrived around 9:06 p.m. this Sunday in the conference room of Al-Thumama Stadium. Didier Deschamps was in full explanation. The two men smiled at each other then, a few minutes later, the coach gave way to the man from this France-Poland (3-1). This is his first speech in this World Cup. The star of PSG and the Blues, author of a double and a decisive pass, hastened to justify his silence, and to ensure that he will assume financial responsibility for it.
Can you tell us about this evening individually and collectively?
Kylian Mbappe. We are very happy to go to the quarter-finals. It was not an easy match. We played a tough team. We were able to score goals at key moments. There were times when we were a little in difficulty in the first half but we managed to have control, at least in sequences.
You are performing a high-flying tournament. How did you prepare? And are you in the best shape of your life?
I wanted to speak first before the first question. Why didn’t I talk until now? It was nothing against journalists and people. I just had and still have this need to focus on the competition, I need to do it 100% and not waste energy on something else. I learned that the French Federation (FFF) was going to take a fine, so I agree to pay them personally instead of the FFF. The FFF does not have to pay for a personal decision. (…) For the rest, I wanted to arrive ready for this World Cup. It’s the competition of my dreams, I built my season on this competition, I prepared myself physically, mentally. We are still far from the objective that we have set and that I have set myself. We have a quarter-final and that’s the most important thing today.
Do you have the Ballon d’Or in mind?
To be honest, no. My goal and the only one here is to win the World Cup. And that starts with winning the next game. It’s my only dream, to win this World Cup. I’m not here to win the Ballon d’Or. I will be happy of course if that’s the case but I’m not here for that but to win the matches with the national team.