This is another enigmatic absence for Kylian Mbappé. On Thursday November 7, Didier Deschamps revealed the list of players selected for the Nations League matches against Israel and Italy. While 23 Blues will be part of the gathering, the captain will be once again absent.
Considered too physically tight during the last gathering,
Kylian Mbappé will not return to the team for the month of November. “I had several discussions with him, I thought about it and I made this decision about this gathering. I think it's better like this” explained Didier Deschamps at a press conference.
Didier Deschamps explains the captain's sidelining
Asked about reasons for absence of his captain, Didier Deschamps did not wish to go into details. “I'm not going to argue, I can tell you two things: Kylian wanted to come and it's not linked to extra-sporting problems which come into play from the moment the presumption of innocence exists” he said.
By evoking “extra-sporting problems”, the coach referred to the revelations from the Swedish press on the opening of a rape investigation which would target Kylian Mbappé. He then continued by mentioning “a one-off choice” concerning this mysterious absence.
The coach assumes the absence of Kylian Mbappé
Asked several times about the absence of Real Madrid striker,
Didier Deschamps n’a did not want to justify himself further. Instead, the former world champion demanded respect for his decision. He said: “It's my responsibility to make the decisions. I took this one on this gathering. I repeat it once again: because it's better that way”.
Finally, the coach revealed that he would not argue
his decision with his group. “The players are the players. They are on the field, but they do not have to participate in a non-call or a call-up. We have to put things into perspective” he explained. What
cause great discomfort in the middle of a press conference.
