France coach, Didier Deschamps has revealed shock at the most recent interview conducted by defender Laurent Koscielny.
In the candid interview, the Arsenal defender disclosed that there were times he actively wished for the national team to lose as he could not partake in the World Cup with them.
He also expressed disappointment with the coach whom he said abandoned him during his time of need and only called on his birthday.
“I was surprised, as were the entire staff,” Deschamps told reporters on Monday. “We’re talking about a player who was hurt in his professional life.
“The World Cup was an end-of-career goal for him, but he could not be there. This is a very serious disappointment, it leaves a lot of unfinished business.
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“For my part, I called him after his injury, even discussed his choice of surgeon with him, I invited him to come during the [World Cup] preparation if he wished. I made sure that he could come to the final in the presidential plane.
“I got back to him in September for his birthday, I had a brief chat with him yesterday on the phone. It is true that I had not [spoken with him] in the last 15 days or a month or so. I could have done more.
“It will not change what I think of Lolo [Koscielny] as a player and as a man. He is someone who has good values.”
France will be in action against Germany and Deschamps has claimed that he is considering playing teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe in the middle
“Kylian performs well in different positions,” Deschamps said. “He is an option with a different profile to [Olivier] Giroud.
“I left with this idea on Thursday [after the 2-2 draw with Iceland]. He is able to be effective out wide as well. When he is in the middle, he also moves a lot to the flanks.
“It has its advantages and disadvantages. He makes more defensive efforts and has more freedom on the wing. In the middle, he plays with his back to the goal without always having spaces.”
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