French national team coach Didier Deschamps has stepped in to defend Kylian Mbappe amid recent criticism that the player is playing too selfishly.
"Mbappe is not a selfish player. He's a striker, and his job is to take risks, make a difference, and determine the outcome of matches," Deschamps said, as quoted by beIN Sports on Wednesday (February 4).
"Since becoming captain (of the French national team), his voice has been heard in the dressing room and his influence is much greater than what is seen on the pitch."
Deschamps emphasized that the "selfish" label attached to Mbappe arose from a misunderstanding of the player's role on the pitch.
As a striker, Mbappé is required to focus more on crucial moments than solely on physical exertion. According to his coach, Mbappé's contribution cannot be measured solely by running statistics or distance covered.
