In strong statements ahead of Euro 2024, France coach Didier Deschamps defended his captain and star player Kylian Mbappé, rejecting criticism of his playing style and running rate on the pitch. Speaking at the Laval Sports Press Festival, Deschamps asserted that Mbappé is not a “selfish” player and that the team does not expect him to run “at least 11 kilometers in every match.”.
Deschamps' comments came in response to a journalist's question suggesting that Mbappé, recently transferred to Real Madrid, was the only player on the team who didn't exert much effort in running. The French coach initially joked, "That applies to the goalkeeper too," before adding more seriously, "That's your analysis. I don't agree, even if some players run less than others. If you expect him to run at least 11 kilometers in every match, there's no point in expecting him to; he won't.".
General context and importance of statements
These statements come at a crucial time, as the French national team, one of the favorites for the title, prepares for Euro 2024. Mbappé, as the team's captain and star player, is under immense media and public pressure. Deschamps' staunch defense aims to shield his player from external pressures and reaffirm his complete confidence in Mbappé's leadership and tactical role within the team.
Guy Stephan, Deschamps' assistant, supported his coach's view, saying: "Mbappe does a lot of high-intensity running," noting that Mbappe's value is not measured by the distance he covers, but by his decisive impact in important moments through his superior speed and explosive runs that overwhelm opponents' defenses.
Mbappe's impact as a leader and his historical development
Deschamps also touched on Mbappe's leadership qualities, which have developed significantly since he took over the captain's armband from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after the 2022 World Cup. He said: "You may like Kylian's personality or you may not, but young players adore him. You may have a stereotype of him as selfish and withdrawn, and of course a striker has to be selfish too, but I assure you that within the French national team, he acts like a true leader.".
This defense reflects a deep understanding of the role of the modern striker, especially a player with the characteristics of Mbappe, who has proven time and again that his effectiveness lies in his ability to change the course of matches in moments, which was a key element in France's winning the 2018 World Cup and reaching the 2022 final. It is a clear message to analysts and the public that evaluating Mbappe's performance should focus on his overall impact and not on traditional running statistics.
