Paris, France – Kylian Mbappé addressed a whirlwind of speculation surrounding his recent knee injury on Monday, offering a candid assessment of the frustration and uncertainty he faced during his 54-day absence from the pitch. Speaking at an event in Paris celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Alan health insurance company, where he was announced as an investor and ambassador, the French captain also touched on his anticipation for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Colombia in the United States.
The event, held near the Eiffel Tower at the Musée du quai Branly, provided a platform for Mbappé to discuss more than just football. However, the conversation inevitably turned to his fitness and the barrage of rumors that circulated during his recovery. He’ll join Les Bleus as they prepare for crucial matches against Brazil in Boston on Thursday and Colombia in Washington D.C. On Sunday.
Frustration and Uncertainty During Recovery
Mbappé was direct in expressing his emotional state during the recovery process. “I had a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, and after some worry at one point, because I had reached a stage where I didn’t know what I had,” he stated. He emphasized his desire to avoid rushing back and potentially exacerbating the injury, a decision he believes ultimately benefited both his health and the team’s performance. “I didn’t want to re-injure myself somewhere else. I took my time. I’m happy because the team played well in the meantime, we didn’t lose sight of our objectives.”
The forward acknowledged a lack of clear communication contributed to the proliferation of inaccurate reports. “A lot of people gave diagnoses when, until extremely recently, I didn’t have a diagnosis,” Mbappé explained. “I heard a lot of things – surgery, he can’t play again, he can’t play in the World Cup. I received the diagnosis on a specific date that I can’t reveal, but all the rumors before that were completely false – I’m sorry to say that because we shouldn’t disrespect journalists. I reckon that’s also the problem, and unconsciously my fault, even if I couldn’t change anything, but there wasn’t clear communication and that left the door open to a lot of interpretations.”
Navigating the Speculation with Real Madrid
Mbappé also addressed how the situation was managed in coordination with Real Madrid, the club he is widely expected to join in the upcoming transfer window. “We tried to manage it as best as possible. You just have to look at the positive side, today I have nothing and we’re still playing for titles, that’s the most important thing. We’ll have time to take stock later.” He confirmed that at no point did he fear missing the upcoming World Cup, stating that even a partial ligament rupture would have allowed him to return to play by April.
He dismissed the reports suggesting his World Cup participation was in jeopardy as unfounded. “It wasn’t even a debate about my end of the season with Real Madrid. I was going to play. That’s why everything that came out didn’t make sense. But I can’t approach forward and say everything is false, otherwise I wouldn’t sleep.”
Looking Ahead to Brazil and Colombia
Despite the challenges of his recovery, Mbappé expressed his eagerness to rejoin the national team and prepare for the upcoming friendlies. “It was tough to stay on the bench, but it was necessary. Maybe two years ago, I would have made the mistake of wanting to rush back and play, and I would have re-injured myself. But now, I think you have to take the time to listen to your body to come back at 100%.”
The matches against Brazil and Colombia represent a significant test for France as they fine-tune their preparations for the World Cup. Mbappé acknowledged the magnitude of facing Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion. “It’s a friendly match, but when you play against Brazil, you quickly forget that it’s a friendly. It’s the biggest nation in football, five World Cups, five stars on the jersey. It’s incredible to be able to play against them and face a team that can potentially win the World Cup.” He also highlighted the challenge posed by Colombia, describing them as an “aggressive team that puts a lot of intensity” into their play.
Record Watch and the Search for a New Manager
The upcoming matches also present Mbappé with an opportunity to surpass Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading goalscorer. When asked about the possibility, Mbappé was quick to show respect for the current record holder. “You have to respect him, you have to respect him (laughs). The record belongs to him, and as long as it belongs to him, I will respect that and pay tribute to him. He worked hard to achieve that record, he broke it later in his career, so as long as he is the record holder, he deserves respect. After… we’ll witness what happens (laughs).”
Finally, Mbappé addressed the ongoing search for a new manager for the French national team. He confirmed he is not privy to the Federation’s decision-making process. “The president and the Federation are in control of the tempo, they will decide when the announcement is made. We’ll see who This proves… No, I’m not aware.”
France’s tour of the United States promises to be a crucial stepping stone as they build momentum towards the World Cup. Mbappé’s return to fitness and leadership will be central to their ambitions. The matches against Brazil and Colombia will not only serve as valuable preparation but also offer a glimpse into the team’s evolving tactics and strategies.
Next up: France faces Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Boston on Thursday, March 27th. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM EDT (00:00 UTC March 28th).
What are your predictions for France’s matches against Brazil and Colombia? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
