LIGUE 1 - Deschamps discusses his management of Kylian Mbappé

Didier Deschamps discussed his handling of Kylian Mbappé and if the Paris Saint-Germain attacker has a separate position inside the team in an interview with Le Parisien ahead of France's Nations League semi-final against Belgium.

The manager also spoke about his emotional response to France's stunning elimination from Euro 2020 against Switzerland earlier this summer.

“Kylian is not a difficult player to manage. He always commits to the squad’s goals. He has that ability, along with a few other players, to make the difference on his own during a match. But that doesn’t mean that he excludes himself from the collective aims.”

“When I have something to say to him, as with any other player, for the good of the team I do so. That’s how it’s been since the start and I will continue that way. Honestly, I think that Ligue 1 managers and especially in lower leagues have a lot more trouble managing other players. I’d rather have Kylian in my team because I know the French team will be better with him than without him.”

“I haven’t had the best of summers. I had two weeks which were quite tough. Then it changed, I had the time to go through it all. Firstly, the time to have some hindsight to analyse [the defeat to Switzerland], the clarity and objectivity that were needed. And then I had my meeting with the [FFF] president. From then on, it was behind me. What’s important is what’s ahead of you. The best is yet to come. Those aren’t my words, but those of Marcel Desailly.”