“It’s a fact that he’s in a difficult situation” - Didier Deschamps weighs in on Kylian Mbappe struggling to find form at Real Madrid
France head coach Didier Deschamps revealed that Kylian Mbappe wanted to join the national team, but he opted to keep the Real Madrid star out. He believes that the striker is facing a tough spell in his career and needs to be away from the spotlight for some time.
Speaking to the media, Deschamps stated that it was best for Mbappe to be away from the national team camp as it would add pressure on him. France recently played out a 0-0 draw with Israel and will face Italy next in the UEFA Champions League.
On Mbappe, Deschamps said (via Madrid Universal):
"It's a fact that he is in a difficult situation. He is obviously going through a period that is not the happiest of his career. He wanted to come. But I think it's better for him (not to be selected) at this moment. Everyone can go through a difficult period. There is a physical element and a psychological element."
Kylian Mbappe has scored six goals in 11 LaLiga matches this season, while assisting once. He has managed just one goal in four UEFA Champions League matches.
Arsenal legend tells Kylian Mbappe to fight for his Real Madrid dream
Robert Pires has urged Kylian Mbappe to not let the criticism affect him at Real Madrid. He believes that the Frenchman must fight for his place and win over the fans with his performances.
MARCA quoted him as saying:
"Mbappe must face these criticisms, change his style of play, recognize that he is not at his best and improve his performance. Mbappe dreamed of playing for Real Madrid. He knows perfectly well that Vinícius, who is an exceptional player, plays in the same position as him, is decisive and scores a lot of goals. Mbappe must adapt to this situation and to the different tactics of the team. Turning down Real Madrid is difficult for any player."
"He is facing strong criticism in both France and Spain, as he is not at his best. Currently, he is not decisive for Real Madrid and is not scoring or creating many goal-scoring opportunities. Real Madrid fans had high expectations for Mbappé since his arrival at the Merengue team. However, changing country, team and teammates is not easy, especially when it comes to a club with the best players on the planet," he added.
Kylian Mbappe was widely criticized for his performance in El Clasico against Barcelona. The striker was caught offside eight times as Real Madrid lost 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.