Kylian Mbappé to succeed Olivier Giroud? Since the international retirement of the new Los Angeles player, the French team has struggled to find its true No. 9. Once Marcus Thuram, another Kylian Mbappé…
Bradley Barcola’s brilliant start to the season with Paris Saint-Germain prompted Didier Deschamps to start the former Gones player on his preferred wing against the Italians (3-1 defeat). The player was one of the only ones to respond against Sandro Tonali’s teammates, scoring a goal in just 13 seconds.
Does that mean that we will no longer consider seeing Kylian Mbappé on the left side? “With Paris, he found himself very often in an axial position. He did it with us. In his club, it is also the position he will have”, estimated Didier Deschamps in a press conference this Sunday.
“The fact that he tends to play more on the left axis than on the right axis is no problem with that. He has the ability to play on the left, but that may require some adjustments,” said the coach.
This summer during the Euro, the “arrangement” involved starting Marcus Thuram in the centre. But as soon as France lost the ball, it was up to Inter to move to the left and carry out the defensive tasks. But with the emergence of Bradley Barcola, the adjustments could then change.
“Finding complementarity”
It would therefore no longer be a question of switching positions depending on which team has the ball, but rather of “players in their preferred position” with more complementarity. “If he (Mbappé) does not have to be in the axis, we see him more on the left than on the right. There are always adjustments to seek complementarity. We need to be present in the area when he is not there,” confides Didier Deschamps, before ironizing: “He is fast, but he does not yet have the ability to cross and take his cross.”
The French attacking potential has been further strengthened recently with the selection of Michael Olise. But the “complementarity” sought will come through automatisms, something the coach of the Blues is aware of. “Having versatile players is positive, even if it is better to be in a preferred position. They are additional options. I make sure to put as many players as possible in the zone where they feel best.”
“Better to be in a preferred position”, this has not really been the case recently with Antoine Griezmann. This Sunday morning, the Colchonero returned to his “complicated” Euro. “My best position? For me it was always in the axis, this feeling of freedom. (During the Euro) It was a lot of changes of position and tactics, we had to deal with it and respect it”, admitted the French international, to the microphone of Téléfoot. So let’s see the next composition against the Belgians, Monday evening (8:45 p.m.).
- RMC Sport
