France forward Ousmane Dembele has publicly defended his national team captain, Kylian Mbappe, asserting that the level of criticism aimed at the Real Madrid star has become 'very, very unfair' and has gone 'too far'. Dembele's remarks were made to the Spanish newspaper Marca, highlighting the intense scrutiny Mbappe has faced.
Mbappe has been under a harsh spotlight in both Spain, following Real Madrid's season without a trophy, and in his home nation since taking over the France captaincy in 2023. Dembele emphasised that some individuals 'overdo the criticism because he's Kylian Mbappe,' urging them to cease the relentless targeting. He stressed that seemingly trivial actions, such as how Mbappe ties his shoelaces or pulls up his socks, are being scrutinised excessively, reminding critics that 'he's still a human being'.
Despite the external pressure, Dembele praised Mbappe's character and leadership within the national squad. He described his captain as an 'incredible player and a very good person off the pitch,' adding that Mbappe is 'very good with us' and 'a leader' within the France team. Both Dembele, who recently helped Paris St-Germain secure their second successive Champions League title, and Mbappe are anticipated to start France's World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday, with subsequent group matches against Iraq and Norway.
Beyond defending his teammate, Dembele also paid tribute to the long-serving France coach Didier Deschamps, who announced last year that he would step down after the World Cup following over a decade at the helm. Dembele lauded Deschamps as 'simply an exceptional coach' and stated that he 'will forever remain a legend among French national team coaches'. Deschamps famously guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and another final appearance four years later.
When questioned about the potential succession of former France great Zinedine Zidane to the coaching role, Dembele expressed a positive outlook. He commented, 'We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench. I'm convinced he would do a fantastic job.' Zidane, a World Cup winner as a player alongside Deschamps in 1998, has an illustrious coaching record with Real Madrid and has frequently been linked with the national team job, though he has consistently declined to discuss the position while Deschamps remains in charge.