DIDIER DESCHAMPS
How much of a blow was it to have Laurent Koscielny ruled out of this World Cup?
It was a very big blow because Laurent has a lot of top-level experience in the French team. But above all I’m sad for Laurent because he was really excited about this tournament. It would have been a big moment in his career. I am lucky in that I have had four central defenders – Laurent, Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane and Presnel Kimpembe – in my squad for a while now, all of whom can be starters without any worries. It’s true that “Kim” hasn’t had much game time with us, but he’s always been one of my four. And he really wants to play, same as they all do.
On the other side of the coin, you now have Ousmane Dembele fit and raring to go...
Ousmane was out for a long time, but he’s always had talent and he’s in better shape than ever now after getting a few games with Barcelona under his belt. He was with a big club in Dortmund, but at Barcelona there are even more demands and, of course, lots of competition. But he’s not lost any of his ability. Quite the opposite, in fact. He’s already done some great things with us.
Paul Pogba has come in for criticism for his performances at Manchester United this season. Is that a worry for someone who’s a regular starter in your side?
I don’t know what you mean by someone who’s a regular starter, actually. But look,
a few months ago people were saying Antoine Griezmann wasn’t performing. People said Kylian Mbappe wasn’t performing. Now everyone thinks they’re at the top of their game. It’s impossible for a player to be at their peak for 10 months of every season. Paul is Paul. Yes, he’s had some difficulties, but there have been long periods of his career where he didn’t have any difficulties at all. I know what Paul can do. He can have his problems, for sure, but that doesn’t change what I think of him – and that goes for all the players.
You have real flexibility in your attacking choices, don’t you?
I like to have at least two players for each position, and not always the same type of player. But you’re right. Kylian Mbappe and Anthony Martial can play as nines as well as wide men. Ousmane Dembele and Thomas Lemar can play out wide or in the middle. I won’t complain about the fact that I have a lot of players who can play in different attacking positions. When I put my squad and my team together I try to get players into the positions where I think they’re most comfortable. But I do like to have different options.
Kylian Mbappe is a very exciting prospect, isn’t he?
Again, I like his flexibility. When he was at Monaco he was very impressive playing in a 4-4-2, with Falcao a little withdrawn. But he also played on the left there. I used him on the right in the French team not that long ago and people said that really wasn’t his position. But he’s since played on the right at PSG – and he’s played well.
Finally, have the political tensions between the West and Russia had any effect on you and your preparations for the tournament?
Look, I’m not going to talk about things that I don’t have either experience or understanding of. My staff and I have spent a long time preparing our World Cup campaign and that’s my focus. I’m simply concentrating on going to the World Cup and doing the best I can.