As France prepare to begin their World Cup campaign, Didier Deschamps used his pre-tournament media availability to discuss two topics of particular interest to Real Madrid fans: his own historic links with the club and the scrutiny currently facing Kylian Mbappé.
The France manager revealed that he was repeatedly linked with the Real Madrid job following his departure from Juventus in 2007, although a move never materialized.
“I was included on the lists of candidates (at Real Madrid at some point),
in the shortlists. I remember my son jokingly telling me this because it happened to me for two years. I left Juventus in 2007; I was on practically every list of candidates, but my son told me the problem was that I always ended up on the list of candidates. Whether it’s true or not, I’m not going to go into details because it’s irrelevant. Did I have offers? Yes, obviously.”
The Frenchman spent considerably more time discussing Mbappé, who enters the World Cup under intense scrutiny after a disappointing season by Real Madrid’s standards. Deschamps made it clear that he remains fully confident in his captain.
“I’ve always thought, and I’ll say it again today, that the French national team will always be stronger with Mbappe. But it hasn’t always been that way. Unfortunately for him, at the Euros, he arrived from PSG after a very, very difficult six months, and he didn’t get any playing time. Now we’ve had 10 days for the two matches; there’s really no preparation. Furthermore, his injury has prevented him from performing at his best.”
Deschamps acknowledged that criticism comes with Mbappé’s status as one of the world’s most recognizable footballers but argued that expectations surrounding the forward are often unrealistic.
“One way or another, he’s always going to be talked about. Looking at the context in France, I think it’s a widespread phenomenon: these days, the minority is always heard more because they’re the loudest, while the majority remains silent. He lives with criticism, he’s prepared for it, whether it’s fair or unfair. Then there are the facts, his individual performance. When Real Madrid doesn’t win titles, it’s clear that he’s just as responsible as the rest of the squad. However, because he’s Kylian, he’s held to even higher standards and blamed even more. And the same thing happens with the French national team. Since expectations are incredibly high for him, he does everything he can, along with his teammates, to make things work out. Regarding the criticism, he’s already had the opportunity to give his side of the story. It’s perfectly normal for Real Madrid fans to be unhappy and question the results. It might not be pleasant, but elite footballers know that’s the way it is.”
The France boss also praised Mbappé’s evolution as captain, highlighting how his leadership style differs from that of former skipper Hugo Lloris.
“Kylian, who is our captain today, before becoming captain, listened, observed; he doesn’t do things like Hugo. He doesn’t have the same character or the same personality (as Lloris). He assumes this leadership off the field, and also on it, and he knows that when he speaks, he doesn’t speak for himself, but for all the players.”
One of the recurring debates throughout Mbappé’s career has centered on his preferred position — the left wing or the middle? Deschamps made it clear where he sees Mbappe playing, although he did it sarcastically:
“I must be stupid, and surely there have been many inept coaches who have put Mbappé at the center of the attack in the teams he has played for… During the last two years at Real Madrid and his last year at PSG… He has been playing as a center forward for three years.”
