Didier Deschamps, coach of the French national team, was at a press conference on Thursday to announce his squad for the Nations League. He was asked to discuss a number of issues surrounding Paris Saint-Germain. One of them was the possible Ballon d’Or 2025 for 28-year-old striker Ousmane Dembélé. The interview was relayed by RMC Sport.
Deschamps “He’s one of the serious candidates.”
“He’s one of the serious candidates. There are others, but he’s one of them. I hope everything goes well for him, already with the next final on Saturday and the Champions League final.”
Deschamps doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself, as there are plenty of other things to think about. But the PSG striker has a good chance this year. Naturally, victories in the two finals to be played would be an added bonus in the face of stiff competition. Ideally, with some great performances from Dembélé. In any case, the coach had something to say about the Champions League final.
Deschamps “it would be the best thing for French soccer.”
“In favor of PSG despite the past in Marseille?
(annoyed) Are you serious? You need to ask someone in the Vieux Port! I’m a coach! There’s a French team… Even if I do have a Marseilles background… Obviously, even if I have two players involved (at Inter, editor’s note), it would be the best thing for French soccer (for PSG to win the final, editor’s note)”.
Perhaps some of the Marseillais will be offended, but Deschamps’ position is quite logical. Today, he represents French soccer above all, and it would be a great thing for French football if PSG were to win.
It would be a milestone and Paris deserves a certain amount of support, especially with a collective that has made its mark this season. Unfortunately, Warren Zaïre-Emery (19-year-old midfielder) has been a little less impressive, but he is on the list.
Deschamps “It’s important for the players to know they have my support”
“He’s not in his happiest period, which is also linked to the fact that he had an injury at the wrong time. There’s competition at PSG where there are a lot of very good players in the middle (…) He’s a very young player. A career is not without difficult periods. He’s still a player I can count on, who’s done a lot for us, even if he hasn’t had much playing time.
Just because it’s harder at their club doesn’t mean they shouldn’t come to the French national team. It’s important for the players to know that they have my support. I could have made other choices, but I made this one because I trust Warren and the potential he has. He’s a very young player, who did things very early on. He can have periods of plateauing and then continue his evolution.”
Zaïre-Emery has been through a slightly more complicated period, and some are calling his career into question. But the Titi has many qualities, and he was able to remind us of them. It’s interesting to see him remind us that his support is just as important.
Based on performances over a few months, the players in the squad could change very often. But it’s far from that simple. There’s the life of the group and the mental management of the players. Zaïre-Emery will no doubt appreciate this. And let’s not forget, once again, that he’s a long way from a completely failed season. Above all, he lacked pace at times. The young midfielder has come back well of late.
Lucas Hernandez (29-year-old defender) has also made a successful comeback in recent months after a very long injury, and has been called up by Deschamps.
Deschamps “it’s an important element.”
“With Lucas, I exchange. He suffered a second serious injury after the first. Obviously, it’s not easy. I know his mentality very well, he has a little limited playing time, but he’s always at his best, he’s someone with an incredible state of mind.
I’m convinced he’s an important player, even if he hasn’t always been a starter. If it hadn’t been for his two serious injuries, he’d certainly have many more caps to his name.”
Lucas Hernandez isn’t necessarily at the top of his game yet, but we’ve seen him regain his rhythm and confidence. He’s still a very experienced player, clearly exemplary in his good behavior, as coach Luis Enrique also emphasized. We’re delighted for him to be back in the national team, even if he’ll still have to work hard to earn a starting berth.
