During a press conference ahead of the French national team’s Nations League match against Turkey this Sunday evening (kick-off at 8:45 PM, CET), France manager Zinédine Zidane was once again asked about the possibility of deploying 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery as a right-back.
Zidane: “I want to see him in that position.”
“As for Warren, I prefer to see him in the center—in midfield, his natural position. We have four players available for the wide positions, and we make our selections based on the players we have. If Warren is to play, it should be in midfield. That is where I want to see him. There’s no hidden agenda here; I’m not trying to play any mind games.”
Despite persistent suggestions from various media outlets and fans—especially following Malo Gusto’s (23, Chelsea) struggles against Italy on Thursday—Zidane could not be clearer. The coach wants Zaïre-Emery to play in midfield, his preferred role, and that is a decision that must be respected. It also makes perfect sense, as that is where the Parisian player has developed the most natural chemistry and instinctive understanding of the game.
It is worth remembering that the right-back role at PSG—a position tailored specifically for Achraf Hakimi (28)—is quite unique; the demands would be different within the French national setup. For Zaïre-Emery, who naturally aspires to establish himself as a key player for Les Bleus, being shoehorned into a different role could potentially be a trap. He certainly has a strong case to play in midfield. At the very least, one would hope to see him in the starting lineup tonight; anything less would likely lead to frustration—both for the player himself and for those watching.
