Didier Deschamps has taken full responsibility for the decision to drop Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe from France’s squad for the upcoming international break.
Mbappe, who was named as France’s captain last year, was rested for his national side’s two Nations League matches last month after suffering a thigh injury with Madrid.
However, Mbappe has now been left out of France’s squad for their games against Israel and Italy next week with Deschamps describing the call as a ‘one-off’.
Mbappe, who has come under fire for his recent performances after Madrid’s defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan, had made himself available for selection for France but Deschamps has opted to leave the 25-year-old out of the squad and claims he is keen to give other forwards more playing time.
‘I had several discussions with him and I made this decision on this gathering, because I think it’s better this way,’ Deschamps said.
‘I’m not going to argue. What I can tell you is two things. One: Kylian wanted to come. Two: it’s not the extra-sporting issues [the rape investigation in Sweden] that come into play, from the moment the presumption of innocence exists. So it’s a choice, which, I repeat, is one-off, for the two matches that await us.
‘I know that things will bounce back, but I’m not going to tell you more, for the simple reason that we have a training camp with two matches. With a course that I had set and on which I also stick, which is important, namely to give playing time and to distribute it, on youngsters who have less experience and who, through the last gathering, gave a lot of satisfaction. That’s why they’re coming back today. And then, we mustn’t forget, there is also a dynamic. We are on three consecutive victories. We must ensure our qualification for the final eight and to be able to play for first place.
‘I repeat, it’s my decision, because it’s better this way.
‘I can understand that it’s not enough for you. But I’m not going to get into an argument that leads to interpretations. So there you go, I don’t want to tell you more. I take responsibility for that decision… I had discussions with him. I’m not going to get into that.
FRANCE SQUAD FOR NOVEMBER GAMES
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens), Lucas Chevalier (Lille)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio), N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
‘Afterwards, you may have information that we communicate to you or not. I speak directly with Kylian. We may not agree on certain subjects. I discuss and then, it’s my responsibility to make decisions. I made that one, on that gathering, because I think it’s better this way.’
Meanwhile, former France winger, Jerome Rothen, believes the decision to omit Mbappe from the squad ‘won’t be accepted’ by the players.
‘Within the group, the fact that it was Didier who made the decision not to call Kylian Mbappe, that will leave its mark,’ Rothen told RMC Sport.
‘How can you explain to your group that your leader, your captain, didn’t come because he had to be protected? And that in March, he’s the one who’s going to represent the group? No, that’s impossible.
‘That won’t be accepted in the locker room. We’ve been there. It won’t be accepted.’
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