France head coach Didier Deschamps has leapt in support of Kylian Mbappe following recent criticism melted out at the Real Madrid forward.
Mbappe, who failed to find the back of the net in his first three La Liga games for Madrid, scored a brace in their 2-0 home win over Real Betis last Sunday.
Deschamps, who led France to the 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia, where Mbappe was the breakout star, said the French forward shoulders expectations as high as what anyone would want from him.
“There are really high expectations, but Kylian wants that too, because he is demanding of himself, although he’s not a Superman, he’s not a robot, but he has the capacity to absorb everything that happens on and off the pitch. It’s understandable that, on a human level, that can be a major source of fatigue too,” Deschamps said.
With Les Bleus set to begin their Nations League campaign against Italy and Belgium, Deschamps revealed that he is happy with Mbappe, who seems to be finding his feet at the Santiago Bernabeu, adding that he believes the forward’s best is yet to come for both club and country.
“I’m not relieved, I’m obviously happy for him. Even though he scored in the first match of the Super Cup. The daily demands are very high, and Kylian [Mbappe] is used to that,” he stated.
“He makes very high demands of himself. Obviously with the change of club there are expectations. His coach Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t worried, and I’m not worried either. Kylian has always scored goals, and he will continue to do so.”
The French team, winners of 2020-21 Nations League, will host Italy’s Azzurris this Friday at the Parc des Princes in their first game, before battling the Red Devils of Belgium at Lyon’s ground on Monday, September 9
