Keep it up Kylian! French team-mate Dembele defends Mbappe after ‘very inappropriate’ criticism of Real Madrid
French striker Ousmane Dembele has called on Kylian Mbappe’s critics to stop the Real Madrid star.
Mbappe came under fire last season from disgruntled Madrid fans who were frustrated by the club’s struggles under first Xabi Alonso and then Alvaro Arbeloa.
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker was targeted after opting to go on holiday last month rather than continue to deal with his problem in the Spanish capital. He then missed the Clasico defeat at Barcelona and was booed by the Santiago Bernabéu crowd when he came on as a substitute against Oviedo.
An online petition has also been set up for Mbappe to be sold this summer and has received over 96 million signatures.
It seemed difficult to blame Madrid’s repeated failures at Mbappe’s door as he finished the season with 42 goals in 44 games and former PSG teammate Dembele says the Les Bleus captain was treated unfairly.
He told Marca: “They didn’t treat him very well.
“You don’t have to be too strict with him. If you tie your strings, don’t tie them, if you raise your socks, if you don’t raise them… It’s very difficult. He’s still human and a great player. Here in the French national team he gets along very well with us. He’s the leader, the captain of our team and an important player.”
Dembele is wary of making promises as France chase World Cup glory
Dembele and Mbappe are set for France in their World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday as Didier Deschamps’ side look to bounce back from their last defeat against Argentina in Qatar four years ago.
The 2018 winners are among the favourites, but Dembele was quick to emphasize that France must go step by step.
He added: “There are many favourites, that doesn’t mean anything anymore in football. We know that the French team, in the last two games, has reached the two finals so we will be a team with high expectations, but we always focus on goals. Before thinking about reaching the round of 16 or the quarter-finals, you have to win the group stage.”
Dembele wants to give Dechamps a big punishment
Deschamps will stop after the tournament after 14 years in charge of the national team and Dembele and his teammates are eager to give him the full sentence.
“Didier Deschamps has contributed a lot to the French national team over the years,” said the Barcelona man. “He has had a great role for all of us, personally, he has noticed my work, as he is the only one. [international] coach I ever had.
“He always gives us good advice and is there to congratulate us or encourage us. He is an amazing coach. His international record with Les Bleus is exceptional: the World Cup, the Nations League and several finals.
“Despite the difficulties, he will always be at the top of the French coaches. We are happy to have him and we hope that this event will end on the right foot. Both of them and the coaching staff have the same desire to reach the end of the tournament, but we will have to stay focused because nothing will be easy.”
Zinedine Zidane has reportedly agreed to take the France job after the World Cup and Dembele will relish the opportunity to work with the Real Madrid midfielder.
“He is the greatest, a true icon of French football,” said Dembele. “He is an outstanding coach who won three Champions League titles in a row with Madrid. We hope to welcome him to the bench of the French national team one day. I am sure he will do a tough job, because he is a born winner.”
