France boss Didier Deschamps was full of praise for Kylian Mbappe as the Real Madrid star looks towards a huge clash with Arsenal in the Champions League.
The forward made his return to the international setup this month, helping Les Bleus in their UEFA Nations League campaign.
After a disappointing defeat away at Croatia in the first leg of the quarter-finals, France managed to turn it around and earn a huge victory on penalties.
The French media gave plenty of praise to William Saliba after the Arsenal star’s impressive display during the tie.
During the camp, the defender would’ve got an up-close and personal look at Kylian Mbappe before a key encounter with his old friend next month.
As Arsenal prepare to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, there has been something of a warning for the side to heed.
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Didier Deschamps praises Kylian Mbappe impact for France
Despite his struggles in front of goal for the national team, France boss Didier Deschamps has outlined just how important Kylian Mbappe is to his side.
The forward was unable to get on the scoresheet for Les Bleus during either tie against Croatia, creating plenty of conversation surrounding the captain.
Deschamps backed him in his post-match press conference though, stating: “He is brilliant; Kylian has been a great captain since the beginning of the week, with very precise statements on and off the pitch, a lot of enthusiasm and determination, and he was the leader in preparing for this match as well.
“He has gone through a tough period, and we won’t repeat it, but he has taken responsibility brilliantly after Lloris and Varane following the 2022 World Cup.
“He is a great player and has been a fantastic captain during this camp.”
It perhaps shows some of the intangibles that Arsenal face in the Champions League next month when it comes to Mbappe and his Real Madrid teammates.
The Gunners will have to be at their best to keep them quiet, that’s for sure.
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Arsenal face tough task with Real Madrid attacking options
It’s fair to say that Real Madrid have perhaps some of the best attacking options in world football right now.
Arsenal won’t just have a task keeping Mbappe quiet, but also take on the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo as their first-choice options.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | 43 | 30 | 4 |
| Jude Bellingham | 38 | 11 | 11 |
| Vinicius Jr | 39 | 18 | 11 |
| Rodrygo | 41 | 13 | 8 |
With all of their forwards already into double figures for goals, there are some clear threats across the pitch that Arsenal will have to deal with.
It remains to be seen just how well they could perform, but it’ll be a tough task.
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