“The interest of the France team always prevails”: Deschamps justifies the absence of Mbappé in front of the media

It will certainly take some getting used to and, to tell the truth, we suspected it a little when he was promoted to captain of the Blues. It was not Kylian Mbappé who was present at the press conference this Wednesday before the match against Ireland but vice-captain Antoine Griezmann. A decision commented on by coach Didier Deschamps, who expects his troops to continue their faultless against the Irish who had jostled them despite the victory (1-0) in March.

Will you have a close eye on the opening match of the Rugby World Cup which will oppose the French team to the Blacks on Friday evening?

DIDIER DESCHAMPS. It’s the opening match, a good poster but I have something else very important to manage before (Editor’s note: the match against Ireland). I am focused on that, I did not exchange with Fabien (Galthié) or anyone else. They are focused on this meeting, there are expectations because of what they have achieved, it will be a good time. Maybe they’ll watch us tomorrow night, too, if they have a moment. There is always this solidarity between the athletes.

Will complementarity be the main criterion for choosing Dayot Upamecano’s duo?

Some have already played together. These last games, it was especially Ibou but he is not there. Beyond the complementarity, it’s a question of animation against an opponent who had given us problems in the first leg, in a particular context, against a team which had left us little space. We didn’t have enough chances. Some times they also came to pick us up high, but we mostly came across a low boulder. It won’t just be a player’s choice, but a balance. All 23 will practice and are expected to be available.

Will William Saliba start?

I can talk about every player, but there are different options. I’m not telling you this to play cat and mouse. There is also an adversary. Do you know how Ireland will play? I would like to, but I won’t know until 1h15 before the match. You, you want them to know this evening or at the latest tomorrow morning. I decided if everything goes well. Normally.

Kolo Muani is fit?

He had a very, very good session on the pitch yesterday, with specific work. He will be with the team today.

Basically if you win on Thursday evening, you are almost qualified, is that the message you send to your players?

I have already known situations with the quasi, and the quasi is not qualified. This is our fifth game, there are points left. I am pragmatic, factual, the players are well aware of this. We have a perfect start, on the accounting level and otherwise, with a 12/12, let’s take the points that concern us. If that’s enough, that’s enough. There are only three on this gathering. We can make a more specific point later.

What impact will Ferguson’s absence on the Irish side have?

He is a young player but has already shown a lot of quality with his club. He is efficient, he has few selections with the Irish team where he takes up space. I know he won’t be there, it will be another player instead with maybe a different profile. It has many qualities, great efficiency. Seeing his young age, he is supposed to progress further. So much the better for the Irish team to have such a player, even if tomorrow he will not be present.

What will it take to change to make victory easier than on the way out?

The match there had been complicated. We will have to have more presence and create a lot more defensive problems for them, we had few chances there. They had a well grouped block at times, I think it will still be the case tomorrow. We were happy at the end of the match with this spectacular save from Mike Maignan. We will have to bring variety to create gaps and get more chances.

Why was Kylian Mbappé not present at the press conference today?

There is no obligation to always have the captain, it can be the vice-captain or a player who is supposed to be important in the following match. In the reflection and the discussions that I can have, the interest of the France team always takes precedence and tomorrow is the match against Ireland. I know very well that you have a great interest in Kylian. If I refer to Kylian’s last press conference, I don’t think you asked a lot of questions about the France team. I always put the collective interest first, I make sure it’s the best for the France team. Antoine (Griezmann) was there, I hope it went well even if when he is there you still manage to ask questions about Kylian (laughs). Kylian is doing very well morally and physically too. He is there, with his status and his role as captain to make sure we get the result we want. The captain will be Kylian Mbappé, that’s clear and clear.

The Blues made a significant donation to the “Restos du Coeur”, did you think it was important?

The players decided among themselves, it’s a very nice solidarity initiative, of course. Beyond the field, the athlete has a societal role, and I think this initiative is very good.