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Published 08:23 IST, November 15th 2024

French Coach Reveals Kylian Mbappe's Situation Following National Team Snub: 'He wanted to come...'

The French coach discusses Kylian Mbappe's situation after his exclusion from the national team, revealing that Mbappe expressed a strong desire to participate.

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Kylian Mbappe
France's Kylian Mbappe gestures as he speaks with his head coach Didier Deschamps during a training session in Munich, Germany | Image: AP

Since moving to Real Madrid this summer, Kylian Mbappe has been the town's most important talk. The French star left PSG for free to join his dream club after he decided not to renew his contract with the Ligue 1 giants in search of European glory. Well, starting impressive, Mbappe won the UEFA Super Cup in his first Real Madrid game; he is yet to make a significant impact individually. Despite him scoring goals regularly his on-field struggles are visible, as the latter takes his time to adjust in Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. He hasn’t been picked for France's squad from the past 2 international breaks. 

France coach says Mbappé's dip in form is due to both psychological and physical reasons

France coach Didier Deschamps said Thursday that there are both physical and psychological reasons for Kylian Mbappé's rough patch of form.

After France drew 0-0 with Israel in the Nations League, Deschamps was again asked about the reasons behind the Real Madrid striker’s absence from his squad.

“It’s a fact that he is in a difficult situation,” Deschamps told broadcaster TF1. “Obviously, he is going through a period which is not the happiest of his career.”

Mbappé was not included in Deschamps’ list for the match against Israel and a game in Italy later this this week.

Mbappé was also absent from the previous France gathering because of a minor thigh injury. This time he is not injured.

“He wanted to come,” Deschamps said. “I think it’s better for him (not to be selected) at the moment. Everybody can go through a difficult period. There is a physical element, and a psychological one.”

Mbappé’s performances have been below par in recent weeks after he joined Madrid from PSG this summer. He has one goal in his last seven club games and hasn’t added to his 48 goals for France since June.

Deschamps last week did not elaborate about his choice to do without Mbappé but said it was not related to recent reports in Swedish media that the former Paris Saint-Germain star was the subject of a rape investigation in Stockholm. Mbappé’s representatives have rejected the reports as “false and irresponsible.”

(AP)

Updated 08:23 IST, November 15th 2024