The double for Kylian Mbappé. The captain of the French team returned to a press conference this Monday, after that of Friday in Lyon before France-Germany (0-2). On the eve of France-Chile in Marseille, the PSG striker came to assume his responsibilities, to explain the collective shortcomings seen during the first friendly meeting.
What is your relationship with the Vélodrome stadium?
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ. I came here as a rival most of the time. I didn’t have the opportunity to really admire the stadium. As captain of the France team, it will be cool to play here. There is a good atmosphere. It’s a big stadium, it’s one of the two or three hottest stadiums in France. Even as a Parisian, it’s always cool to come here, there’s always a good atmosphere which always makes us want to have a good match.
Were the managers failing on Saturday against Germany?
We are never harsh with high-level players. It is our life to be criticized. I even prefer it to be me who is criticized. I have no problem taking responsibility for failures. The match is over. We aim to show a reaction tomorrow (this Tuesday). We must realize that what we did was not enough.
Do you think that the public at the Vélodrome will spare you as captain of the French team?
I wouldn’t presume to ask that. I’m going to concentrate on playing, regardless of the reception I get. I will give the best of myself. To be honest, I’ll understand if I get whistled. There is a Clasico on Sunday, I am a PSG player. That’s life. I won’t take this personally. If I don’t get whistled, I’ll be pleasantly surprised. Just goes to show that in life, we can have good surprises (smile).
Is this defeat a warning signal before the Euro?
We had no doubt. We played badly. I had the chance to play several competitions and sometimes we took a beating in the matches before, we missed out and in the end, we had great competitions. Others where we won all our friendly matches and returned home very quickly. Friendly matches give indications that should not be overlooked, but there are no absolute truths.
How do you judge your seven years in the French team, since March 25, 2017?
It passed quickly but I experienced a lot of things, positive or a little less so. It’s a huge source of pride, it hasn’t changed. From the first day at the castle, I wanted to write an important part of the history of the French team, to win as many trophies as possible, to make the French proud, to break numerous records. I’m on my way to getting there. There are still big deadlines and I hope to play in the French team for a long time to come.
“If the coach puts me on, of course I want to play”
Do you feel the need to play two international matches in three days?
This has nothing to do with my personal situation. It’s an unspeakable pride to play for the France team. As long as I am fit, I will never refuse to play for the France team. I always want to play, even in a club. That’s my philosophy, I prepare every summer by telling myself that the season will be long. I want to be ready all the time. This is how you become one of the best or the best. If the coach puts me on, of course I want to play.
Aurélien Tchouaméni said that Spain will soon realize the greatness of a player. Who was he talking about?
He was talking about me. I played Real Sociedad and I’m going to play Barça and if we pass, we can play Atlético Madrid. They will see me a little more often. They will get a glimpse of the player that I am. That’s all.
In leadership, have you taken your part?
It wasn’t enough. We were overwhelmed, it was more than leadership. We were overwhelmed in every aspect. It’s like warnings but there is no absolute truth. We must realize that if we play like that, we can face big disappointments.
Are you entering the most exciting part of the season?
The field part is super exciting. We work to be entered in all competitions. These are the matches that everyone watches. We have this opportunity, this chance. The child in me is super excited to play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the French championship title, the Euro. Now, we have to materialize this with trophies. People expect that from us and we will try to give it to them.
“We have to use this match (against Germany) as a driving force”
Why are you coming back so quickly to a press conference, three days after the one in Lyon before France-Germany?
It’s my responsibility, even more so after a defeat. If we had won, I wouldn’t have come. I wanted to leave room for other leaders to emerge.
What are the warnings that you mention?
There was everything. When you see the match, there are a lot of warnings. Technically, tactically, in desire, in efficiency, that’s a lot of things that were missing in an international match, even if it was friendly and no one died. Better take this slap now. If this match can help us, we will come back on July 14 and say to ourselves that it was nice to take a slap against Germany. For the moment, we haven’t won anything and we’ve just taken the slap. We must use this match as a driving force and counter-example to know what we are exposing ourselves to.
Does this defeat force you to lower your ambitions for the Euro?
This is the importance of the word nuance. It’s a warning. The match was not good. We’re not going to throw away everything we’ve done, the qualifying campaign. We’re not going to throw everything in the trash. There were quite a few lessons for the future. But we’re not going to shoot guys after a losing match. We are always united, united, filled with confidence, also with humility and we are ready to have a reaction tomorrow.
