On September 2nd, local time, Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national team, highly praised Mbappé’s performance during a press conference and confirmed the importance of Mbappé to the French national team.
In the match against Betis, Mbappé scored twice, ending his three-game goal drought in La Liga, a performance that has received significant attention from the French media. Deschamps expressed his delight at Mbappé’s ability to score in the Spanish league and firmly believes that the French team will be better with Mbappé.
“Obviously, I am happy for him. The expectations for him are very high, and he is accustomed to such high demands. After transferring to a new club, these expectations have only increased. Ancelotti is not worried, and neither am I. Mbappé continues to score goals and will continue to do so. He will return to the national team with a smile. There is no doubt that the French team will be stronger with Mbappé. Even if he doesn’t score, he will join the national team with a different mindset, which applies to other players as well.” Deschamps commented on Mbappé during an interview with Clairefontaine.
At the beginning of this season, the topic of Mbappé’s position on the field was a hot discussion, much like when he played for Paris Saint-Germain. He seems to prefer playing on the left wing rather than as a central striker. Regarding this, Deschamps said, “In any case, all attacking players have considerable freedom of movement. Mbappé needs this freedom. Of course, we must make some adjustments, maintain overall balance, and ensure there are suitable players in each position. Mbappé is not a traditional center-forward; he cannot hold up play in the box like other strikers. He needs to work with his teammates around him to demonstrate his threat and efficiency.”
As a new signing for Real Madrid, Mbappé may play as a center-forward in the next two UEFA Nations League matches for the French team, one against Italy on September 6th and another against Belgium on September 9th. Due to Giroud’s retirement and the uncertain form of Kolo Muani, Mbappé is likely to become the focal point of France’s attack, although he will still adjust according to tactical needs.