Zinédine Zidane, head coach of the French national team, held a press conference ahead of Les Bleus’ Nations League match against Italy this Thursday evening at the San Siro (kick-off at 8:45 PM, CET). The discussion touched upon two Paris Saint-Germain players: 20-year-old midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery and 20-year-old midfielder/forward Senny Mayulu. Regarding the former, Zidane addressed the possibility of him playing as a right-back—a role he has occasionally filled at PSG—while the latter’s call-up was explained as a move to cover for the absence of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé (27).
Zidane: “I want to see them in the best possible conditions.”
“What I want is to see the player [in his natural position]. While I understand the perspective of club coaches—given the high number of matches they face—I want to see these players in the best possible conditions. On the right side, we are well-covered with Malo Gusto and Saël Kumbedi. As for Warren, the goal is to see him in midfield.”
Although the debate has resurfaced in the media and among fans over the last few days, the answer is definitive: Zaïre-Emery will play in midfield for Les Bleus, barring any physical setbacks on the right side of the defense. Such a clear stance should help restore a sense of calm, especially as the players currently occupying the right-back position have faced public scrutiny.
Furthermore, Zidane rightly points out that playing for the national team is different from playing for a club. There is less time to work on every specific detail, and shifting positions is more challenging. It is important to recognize that the role of a right-back at PSG is not the same as it is for the French national team; it is better to keep players in the positions where they are most comfortable and experienced.
Zidane: “I like everything—his technique and what he does.”
“I like everything—his technique and what he does. Naturally, he’s a player who’s on the list. We try to do things consistently. We don’t just look at the U21s; we have a list, and when there are absentees, we bring players in.”
There is no word yet on exactly where Mayulu—who is well-accustomed to switching positions—will play, nor how much playing time he might get. However, the PSG player—who has largely operated as a “false nine” in recent weeks—is not here by chance. While it is true that there are several absentees, it is also a reflection of the particularly stiff competition within the French national team setup at the moment. That said, the coaching staff clearly has genuine faith in him. Hopefully, he will seize this opportunity to make his mark and make the selection decisions even tougher come March.
