Deschamps Defends Mbappe Amid Criticism

France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, has taken steps to protect his star player, Kylian Mbappe, from increased scrutiny over his defensive contributions and running statistics. Recently, Mbappe’s playing style has faced criticism from both Spanish and French media, prompting Deschamps to address these concerns during a press conference.

Critics have highlighted Mbappe’s relatively lower distance-covered metrics compared to his teammates as evidence of a perceived lack of effort, particularly when the team is defending. Deschamps firmly rebutted this notion, arguing that demanding excessive running from the 27-year-old would undermine his unique skill set.

The World Cup-winning coach contended that modern football analysis often confuses effort with effectiveness. For Deschamps, managing a player of Mbappe’s caliber necessitates an understanding of specific trade-offs to maintain his explosive ability, which is crucial for decisive plays in the final third of the field.

In a candid evaluation of his captain’s physical capabilities, Deschamps emphasized the need for fans and pundits to adjust their expectations. He explained that Mbappe is physically tailored for bursts of extreme speed rather than the enduring running typical of a box-to-box midfielder. Responding to a journalist’s inquiry about Mbappe’s reluctance to track back, he stated, “That’s your analysis, but I don’t believe that’s the case. If you expect him to cover at least 11 kilometers per match, you’ll be disappointed; he won’t.”

Beyond the discussion of physicality, Deschamps aimed to dismantle the personality cult surrounding Mbappe, which often portrays him as aloof or self-serving. He provided insights into the relationship between Mbappe and the squad’s younger players, asserting that the external narrative of selfishness contradicts the reality within the team environment.

“You may like Kylian, or you may not, but the younger players adore him,” Deschamps remarked. “While it’s true that a striker must have a certain degree of selfishness, I can assure you that within the French national team, he embodies the role of a true captain.”

Despite the ongoing criticism of his style of play, Mbappe’s performance statistics are impressive. He currently leads La Liga in scoring with 22 goals from 21 matches, helping his team remain just one point behind leaders Barcelona amid the turmoil following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal and Alvaro Arbeloa’s appointment as manager.

Additionally, he has scored an outstanding 13 goals in just seven Champions League matches; however, this performance did not suffice to secure a top-eight finish for his club, necessitating a playoff against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica to clinch a spot in the last-16.

Mbappe has also found the net in each of his last six outings for the French national team, totaling eight goals during this period. This resurgence reinforces Deschamps’ confidence as preparations intensify for the upcoming World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.