While the Blues got through the end of the year jumping from one controversy to another, without their captain Kylian Mbappé mired in extra-sporting affairs and still managing to come out first in their group in the League of Nations, It’s time to take stock. And in particular for Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF – candidate for his own succession in mid-December – invited Wednesday evening on the set of La Chaîne L'Équipe.
Among the many subjects discussed, there was obviously the constantly burning one around Mbappé. The former Parisian was first exempt from the October rally due to an alleged injury which did not prevent him from playing two days after the announcement of the list with Real Madrid, then he did not was not summoned by Didier Deschamps in November.
“I spoke with (Kylian Mbappé) during the Euro,” he says. Then there were many contacts, Didier went to Madrid to meet him and it seemed natural to me to let the coach speak with the player. Who reported to me about the discussions they had until the decision he took for the last gathering. »
For him, there is “no problem” between Mbappé and Deschamps, who he believes justified his choice during the rally. “Today, Kylian is in a delicate sporting period. He is one of the best players in the world and, when he is the best player in the world, he is an irreplaceable asset for the France team. My only wish is that he becomes what he is again and that he joins us in March at the next gathering (Editor's note: for the quarter-finals of the League of Nations) to bring us everything he has already brought to the French team. »
Philippe Diallo also spoke about the status of Didier Deschamps, the subject of much criticism in 2024, both on his choices but also on the game produced by the Blues. After recalling that “DD”, in office since 2012, had “achieved the objective” which had been set for him at the Euro, namely reaching the semi-finals, Diallo defended his coach: “I sometimes find it excessive, strange, that given what he succeeds, we necessarily want to break him. »
“There is sometimes a lack of recognition for what has been accomplished,” believes the president of the federation. Who says: “After the Euro, I asked him if he was worn out, physically, mentally, after 10 years at the head of the Blues. He asked me for a few days of reflection, of mental rest, he came back saying: I'm in great shape. »
