Didier Deschamps did not call Kylian Mbappé into the France team squad for the November matches because he “thinks it's better like that”, he said on Thursday, assuring that his decision was not linked to the captain's “extra-sporting problems”.
“I don’t want to get into an argument that leads to interpretations. I can’t tell you more,” the coach only explained at a press conference at the headquarters of the French Football Federation (FFF) in Paris, adding: “I take responsibility for this decision.”
“It's my decision because I think it's better like that. I understand that that's not enough for you,” he added to the media, specifying that the sidelining of Mbappé only concerned the November rally.
Mbappé had already missed the one in October, due to an injury to his left thigh, but he still played with Real Madrid, immediately triggering a controversy.
It had taken a completely different turn with the revelations of the Swedish press on the opening of an investigation for rape which would target, according to the dailies Aftonbladet and Expressen, the attack after a trip to Stockholm during Israel-France (1-4 ).
The Swedish police and courts have still not indicated whether Mbappé was indeed the subject of a rape complaint.
“Extra-sporting problems do not come into play” in Deschamps’ decision “from the moment when the presumption of innocence exists and must exist”, clarified the coach.
“DD” also added that the player had “wanted to come” to play these two Nations League matches against Israel, on November 14 at the Stade de France, and against Italy on the 17th in Milan.
“I had several discussions with him, I thought about it and I made this decision, because I think it’s better that way,” concluded Deschamps.
With AFP
France
