The coach of the France team answered questions from the media Monday evening, after the success against Belgium (1-2) during the 4th day of the Nations League.
His analysis of French success in Belgium: «What displeased me was what we did for 25/30 minutes, I expected aggression from the Belgians and we had difficulty holding the ball. We got shaken up. Afterwards it was better in the last quarter of an hour of the first half because we got out of the pressing zone. The 2e period was better, we controlled better, perhaps the Belgians left some energy too. We covered the terrain better. We had a lot of chances and chances even though it’s a match that could go one way or the other. Everything is not perfect, but the victory is there and it is the merit of the players who finish at 10. It is good for this group which is less experienced to go through matches like that. There will be quite a few things to correct. Belgium gave us problems with speed and percussion.»
The double of Kolo Muani, top scorer for the Blues in 2024: «I have no advice to give (to Luis Enrique), I am very happy for “Kolo”, he is performing well. I found him good with his back to goal, he has a very good heading game, it’s good for him and the group. He scores two goals, he has confidence, and it shows in his game. I hope it goes well at his club too. I always found him to have a somewhat cool nature, to the point of telling him to put intensity into what he does. We must not forget where it comes from. There are demands, with his transfer price, he hasn’t done everything well either. He’s more confident, that’s for sure.»
Founding success for the French team: «Yes, these are passages, it is better to win them, obviously by suffering. The group is younger, has less experience. We had greater adversity than Israel, that will help us. We have to correct things because the high level is very demanding. We made mistakes that we shouldn’t make. Despite everything, we won and it is an important victory in this group compared to a possible qualification for the quarter-finals. Even when you win them, you have to score four goals each time. We did what we had to do tonight (Monday) with a rejuvenated group that has enthusiasm and concentration.»
The feverishness of the defense: «We don’t concede a lot of goals, but inevitably there are mistakes. It’s the merit of the opponent too. With the ball, we had losses of ball which we must avoid. It’s also because of what we have in front of us, fast players, who strike, it’s more difficult to defend.»
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The scores of the Blues against Belgium: clinical Kolo Muani, magical Maignan, catastrophic Saliba
I tell you again and again, but there is a very negative environment. I’m not going to say I know, I don’t know. But you have to take a step back before releasing anything and everything.
Didier Deschamps on Kylian Mbappé
Business around Mbappé: «Right now, it’s coming out everywhere, no matter how. Between the part of things of doing the true and the false. Info or misinformation… I didn’t discuss this with him. He is big enough to communicate. I tell you again and again, but there is a very negative environment. I’m not going to say I know, I don’t know. But you have to take a step back before releasing anything and everything. But if you give credit to anyone… it leads you to things sometimes. I’m taking a step back but it’s not a good thing for the French team.»
Why not have Wesley Fofana play at this gathering: «I don’t have to have regrets. In such a match, against such an opponent, I wanted players who had already played together. This is what motivated my choice, even if I replaced Théo Hernandez with Lucas Digne. I know some people didn’t play, it’s not the best thing. Would this have gone better? I don’t have the answer and neither do you. William (Saliba) and Ibou (Konaté) have known each other for a while, that doesn’t take away from Wesley’s quality, but I make sure not to put him in difficult conditions.»
First place to play against Italy: «Ah, are you there already? (France, 2e of the group with 9 points, faces Israel and Italy, 1is with 10 points, in November). We have to secure number 2 alreadye place, but we are not going to go to Italy to visit Milan. There will certainly be the possibility (of being first). It’s possible that in this match, first place is at stake.»
