(Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines) Kylian Mbappé “checks all the boxes to have this additional responsibility”, justified coach Didier Deschamps, Tuesday in an interview with the regional press, after having entrusted the captain’s armband to Kylian Mbappé.
The Blues boss made his choice based on “internal logic” following the international retirement of former captain and vice-captain Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane, he said. “It’s also consistent with what’s happening on the ground, internally. And what I expect from this internship and in the future,” he continued.
At 24, “Kylian ticks all the boxes for this added responsibility. But on the other hand, it doesn’t go against Antoine (Griezmann) who has always been an important player, even in difficult times when he was also criticized,” Deschamps continued.
From the top of his 117 selections, Griezmann could claim the armband. According to some specialized media, the Atlético Madrid player would have had a hard time accepting Deschamps’ decision.
“He will also have a responsibility as vice-captain, with other players certainly to make the link, to be a unifier in the group. The link with the technical staff, with me in the exchanges, then also with the institution and the new president of the Federation Philippe Diallo, “detailed the coach.
According to him, “Kylian and Antoine could be either captain… That’s why I preferred to discuss it with the players, if one or the other had said that it’s a thing which might not suit him and that might not be a good thing for the band”.
The technician reiterated that “legitimacy” was the “indispensable” criterion in his eyes to be a candidate for the armband. He also mentioned “this driving, unifying aspect in the group, with the youngest, the not so young, certain external obligations as well which are increasingly important”.
Finally, Deschamps acknowledged that his choice was partly decided before the start of the rally. “I already had my idea in mind before having Monday’s exchanges” with the main stakeholders, he said.
