Kylian Mbappe did not attend the pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Ireland. Coach Didier Deschamps explained the reason.
The French national team will face Ireland in the 5th round of Group B of the Euro 2024 qualifiers held at Parc des Princes in Paris, France at 3:45 a.m. on the 8th (Korean time).
Currently, France is ranked first in Group B. They won all 4 games, earning 12 points, and are 3 points ahead of ‘second place’ Greece, having played one more game. Ireland has 1 win and 2 losses in 3 games, and is tied with the Netherlands on points but ahead of goal difference in 3rd place.
A pre-match press conference was held ahead of the game. However, Mbappe did not appear here. Mbappe is the ‘captain’ of the French national team, but instead, vice-captain Antoine Griezmann and coach Deschamps held a press conference on his behalf.
Coach Deschamps opened up about Mbappe’s absence. “There is no obligation that the captain should always come. I think people know that there is more interest in Mbappe than in the French national team,” he said, according to Get Football News France.
He added, “If Mbappe had attended the press conference, would there have been many questions about the Ireland game? I don’t think so. I pursue the interests of the group more than the individual.”
This was said with Mbappe’s recent situation in mind. Mbappe was the biggest topic of this summer’s transfer market. He is a living legend at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), but his relationship with the club deteriorated this summer. His remarks were the cause of the problem. The basic contract period between Mbappe and PSG runs until 2024, and includes an option for a one-year extension. In this situation, Mbappe said that he would not exercise the option to extend his contract with PSG.
PSG was furious. Their plans for the new season were completely ruined by Mbappe’s comments. Of course, he made it clear that he would remain with the team in the 2023-24 season, but from PSG’s perspective, if he did not extend his contract, they would have to let him leave as a free agent next summer, so they either persuade him to extend his contract or sell him for money this summer. had to choose. Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi also expressed his disappointment in an official statement.
PSG persuaded Mbappe several times. But I couldn’t change his stubborn attitude. In the end, PSG excluded him from the Asian tour list and began listing him for sale in earnest.
Naturally, rumors of a transfer to Real Madrid came to mind. For a long time, Real Madrid was a likely candidate for Mbappe’s next destination. Until Mbappe signed a new contract with PSG in 2021, a move to Real seemed like a fait accompli.
But the transfer did not take place. Mbappe made it clear that he would remain at PSG and began to gradually restore his relationship with the club. As a result, Mbappe returned to PSG’s squad and is still playing the role of ‘ace’. Nevertheless, the renewal of Mbappe’s contract with PSG is still not making progress.
As it was an incident that shook the whole world, it was clear that it would be the target of many media outlets. Accordingly, Coach Deschamps did not bring him to the press conference in order to protect the player.
Griezmann also opened his mouth. He said: “Mbappe is off to a good start. We barely have time to train together, but I always try to help him get into the best position possible. We know each other well. I “He finds his space and answers his calls. He is a top player. He was at the center of chaos this summer, but he has come into form again since the first game against Toulouse.”
By: 안전놀이터