Kylian Mbappe has complained about Olivier Giroud making their feud public – all while holding a press conference, report Sky Sports.
As is mentioned in the report, Giroud took issue with the lack of service provided by his teammates, particularly Mbappe, during France’s 3-0 victory over Bulgaria, during which the Chelsea striker scored a brace.
In the build-up to a major international tournament, with France having a seriously tricky group to navigate, in-house issues are the last thing that Didier Deschamps will have been wanting to deal with.
However, deal with them he must, and Mbappe doesn’t appear to have any intention of letting things lie. Instead, he’s spoken about the situation publicly, all while complaining about Giroud making the issue public in the first place.
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Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe in action for France
Mbappe is quoted by Sky Sports saying:
“It’s not what he said. Frankly, what he said doesn’t bother me. I’m a striker and it’s an opinion. He is expressing an opinion when he speaks. It doesn’t bother me.”
“I’m a striker and I’ve had this feeling 365 times in a game and I will have it again, when you feel you’re not getting the service [of the ball]. It’s more about making it public.”
“I congratulated him for scoring in the changing room, he didn’t say anything to me, and then I heard from the press. He didn’t say anything bad.”
Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring against Bulgaria
“But making it [the argument] public…I would have preferred to let him come and be even more vocal in the changing room. It’s happened to me. We have known each other for a while.”
“You know what I am like in the changing room. If I have something to say to someone I say it. That’s not a problem but it stays in the changing room. But it’s not a problem, these are small trifles.”
From a home nation perspective, with England, Wales and Scotland all competing in Euro 2020, having the world champions in meltdown mode on the eve of their opening fixture is hardly bad news.
As ever, it looks as though the only team that can stop France from going all the way in Euro 2020 is themselves. They have historically been their own worst enemy, and that looks set to continue.
Andriy Yarmolenko may well have scored the goal of Euro 2020 – you can watch it here
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