Three days after the slap received against Germany in Lyon (2-0), the France team faces Chile this Tuesday evening in Marseille (9 p.m.). This last meeting before Euro 2024 should allow Didier Deschamps to review his troops. Present at a press conference this Monday afternoon in the auditorium of the Vélodrome stadium, the national coach did not wish to dwell on the setback conceded to Lyon and confirmed that he would carry out a major rotation.
You pointed out your team’s athletic deficit after Saturday’s defeat. Will it be different on Tuesday against Chile?
DIDIER DESCHAMPS. We are not immune. Even if it goes against our performance, the objective is to see as many players as possible. I am not going to change my vision, I consider that it is the time to do that in relation to what awaits us. By having only three days of rest, it goes in this direction. We must protect the players and not take risks. Handing over players just to hand them over, when they are not in full possession of their means, makes no sense.
What state of mind are you in before returning to the Vélodrome?
I’m always happy to come back here, on a personal level. In my professional life, I spent eight years and eight years in Marseille, that’s multiplied by two or three. When we see the photos (laughs). I changed my build. Through my memories here, it is always a pleasure.
What do you think of Jonathan Clauss, the stage’s local?
It’s positive for him to come back here. I hope that for those who wear a different jersey, it would be good to have the fans behind them.
“I can’t please everyone”
Did Saturday’s match shake up your beliefs?
I remain factual. It’s never a long, quiet river. There is a collective expression that is a little more random, but it was the time to distribute the playing time. There is an analysis that I can give you which will be less in-depth than that given to the players. We have to switch because we don’t have too much time.
Does playing at the Vélodrome encourage you to field players from OM or those who have been with the club?
No, if I take these criteria… Even if it may please them, I think about it as I think about the negative effect for others who may be chambered or more. Emotionally, I know I can’t please everyone. Between the eleven who will start and those who will return, that leaves some margin.
Will Mike Maignan start against Chile?
Yes, he is ready. There is one more session but there is no problem.
Are you going to review your offensive animation after showing a lack of liaison between the midfield and the attack on Saturday?
There was also a lack of binding in defense. Antoine is not there, we know that. We conceded a lot of chances, we were not efficient in this regard. I can make this observation on all levels, on collective balance. The end of the first period was interesting but it was swept away by what we did less well in the second period.
What do you think of the season of William Saliba who is one of Arsenal’s defensive executives this season?
William Saliba is having a good season with Arsenal. He also does things that I don’t like as much. We cannot have the same analysis in the France team, his playing time being shorter and it did not always go very well. The hierarchy is not favorable to him at the moment. Even if he wasn’t in the best conditions. It’s there and the fact that it’s there is important. He will have playing time tomorrow.
This team has shown great strength of character in recent years, do you expect more from Mbappé and Tchouaméni in terms of leadership?
You have radical analyses. Leadership doesn’t matter. If you expect Kylian to scream, that’s not him. He is captain but if he has to show the way, it is by what he achieves on the field. When we are less good, we have to talk to each other more between the lines to correct positions. It’s natural for some players, for others it’s less so. In more difficult times, it allows you to correct certain things.
What style of opposition do you expect with Chile?
It is an adversary which does not have the same characteristics as Germany. In terms of commitment, there is what is needed. It’s a team with lively, fast players and a ground game, even if they changed coach. They won in Albania. It’s a different opposition, not necessarily usual. When we play a Euro, they are not planned (laughs). Between Vargas and Sanchez, it weighs heavily on the offensive level.
