Didier Deschamps on Kylian Mbappé’s press conference absence: “My aim is to protect my players.”
France manager Didier Deschamps opted to send N'Golo Kanté to a pre-match press conference instead of team captain Kylian Mbappé to protect the star player from travel fatigue. Deschamps emphasized that his priority is the physical well-being of his players during the high-temperature conditions of the tournament.
Why it matters
The decision highlights the logistical challenges and player management strategies teams face during the World Cup.
It was N’Golo Kanté , rather than team captain Kylian Mbappé, who appeared before the media at France ’s pre-match press conferences before their World Cup opener against Senegal .
The article reports on the manager's stated reasoning without taking a side on the controversy.
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