The France coach, Didier Deschamps downplayed the influence that Kylian Mbappé’s recent problems at Real Madrid may have on the World Cup and assured that the forward arrives “in full shape, physically and psychologically.”
“I talk to him and he must also do it with his teammates because he is the captain. I repeat: one thing is what happens in the clubs and another is the national team,” said the coach on the eve of the first friendly preparation of the ‘Bleus’, which will be played this Thursday in Nantes against the Ivory Coast.
“Kylian has experience that others don’t have. It will be his third World Cup and it is a very demanding competition. It’s fine,” Deschamps added.
The coach, who will experience his last World Cup as head of the French team, also highlighted the good general condition of the group, including William Saliba, who arrived with some discomfort after the Champions League final that he lost to Arsenal last Saturday.
Likewise, he noted that he found the PSG players who joined after winning the European title in good physical condition before joining the national team’s training camp.