Deschamps intervenes in Giroud-Mbappe France argument
After bagging twice in France's Euro 2020 warm-up victory over Bulgaria, Olivier Giroud complained that Kylian Mbappé doesn't pass the ball.
Olivier Giroud found the net twice in France’s 3-0 friendly victory over Bulgaria as the World Cup holders prepare to attempt to add the Euro 2020 title to their laurels but the Chelsea striker opened up a can of worms in his post-match press conference after appearing to aim a barb at PSG striker Kylian Mbappé for failing to pass him the ball. Giroud scored a second half double after replacing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema at the Stade de France but Les Bleus second-highest scorer of all time was far from happy after the game.
“People say I am discreet but it is because sometimes I ask for balls and they do not come to me. I try to make all the possible calls to my teammates and to find give the team solutions in the area. With two good assists from Ben Yedder and Pavard I was able to finish the game well, but we could have scored more goals if we had been more efficient. I’m happy to have helped the team, I am not bitter,” the Chelsea striker said.
Deschamps: "Oliver does not have the same profile as Mbappé"
In France, Giroud’s words have been viewed as a veiled attack on Mbappé, who dropped further back from goal after the introduction of the target man. “Giroud, Mbappé, Deschamps… the big problem,” said media outlet Foot01, while Football365 ran the headline: “Crash Giroud-Mbappé.”
Les Bleus boss Deschamps felt obliged to address Giroud’s complaints after the match. “If the ball always goes to whoever is asking for it… it’s always the same. It could be that what Giroud says is true. In some situations, the pass does not arrive. But we should not stigmatize Kylian or anyone else. Oliver does not have the same profile as Mbappé. He has a more axial pivotal position and in the first half with Benzema the front three can change positions and swap zones. It is up to the players to decide.”