The French coach responded to current topics on the eve of the start of the Euro against Austria.
Special correspondent in Dusseldorf
On the words of Mbappé
“Everyone will have their own analysis. It doesn’t matter, there will be pros, cons, you like it or not. They are footballers but above all they are French citizens and they are not outside the situation that France may be experiencing. For those who doubt it, whether on my side or from the FFF, there is no advice, they come and have the freedom to come and say things with their words, their sensitivity. Me, at my level, I have a lot of things to manage with tomorrow’s match (Monday against Austria), I am not at the players’ table but at that of the staff, and I will not teach you anything by telling you that there are discussions around politics. Personally, I have never taken a political position, but there is a civic duty that has always been important.
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His position against the RN when he was a player
“I was waiting for that one. At that time (after the quarter-final of the Euro against the Netherlands, Jean-Marie Le Pen criticized the Blues for not singing the Marseillaise and Deschamps responded: “Le Pen is saying anything )… I see you coming. I did it in 1996 because we attacked the players and I was captain. We represent diversity, solidarity, union, diversity. Excuse me, whether it’s you, politics or whatever, I’m out of touch. I’m not going to react to everything. If you attack me head-on, I’ll tell you, there’s no problem. I am not going to respond to political figures of different labels. We are united. And we want to share beautiful emotions. I am a coach, if you want to have the citizen’s opinion, I will perhaps speak to you after the Euro. I have a position that I have always had. In 1996, it was a direct attack.”
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On Austria, opponent of the Blues
“The first match is very important. Not decisive but very important. This can put us in a good position. This will be our goal tomorrow, even if Austria thinks the same thing. You have to negotiate it well. It’s the competition and the high level, I’m not going to add to it. With all the staff who have seen Austria in the last 4 matches, they will have all the information about what adversity we will have tomorrow (Monday). The common trait between all these matches is the very high intensity. This Austrian team has this strength, it puts pressure, with very good players, uses verticality well in the game. It’s our first meeting, we have to be ready to obtain the result that the we want.”
On his role as manager
“If I have to intervene and say something, I consider that my intervention is inappropriate. I could have said: given the situation, you guys have the freedom but concentrate on the athlete. It seemed like I was forbidding them to speak. I did not do it. They are men, French citizens, with their own sensitivity. When they are on the field, they are focused on the sporting objective, but not disconnected from what may happen.
On his ability to manage events
“As long as the group is focused and doing things, they can discuss what they want. I did not interfere in the discussions. They are free. This is part of the context. When they are on the pitch, they are obviously focused on the athlete but they are not disconnected before and after the matches. »
On the family spirit in the group
“Family spirit? We are in very high competition but as in any major competition, it is above all a human adventure. We have 25 players and around twenty members of the staff. Everyone needs to move in the right direction. The goal for me and my staff is to keep everyone involved. »
