Didier Deschamps is set to lead the France national team in his final FIFA World Cup as manager. Despite facing criticism for his tactical approach, Adrien Rabiot (31), one of his key players, has come to his defense during an interview with The Guardian.
Deschamps boasts an impressive record with Les Bleus, having taken over in 2014 and leading the team to two World Cup finals, claiming victory in 2018 (Russia). He also guided them to the Euro 2016 final. As he gears up for his third consecutive World Cup final, Deschamps aims to bounce back after the team’s penalty shootout loss to Argentina in 2022.
Rabiot, now the third-most capped player under Deschamps, expresses his desire to honor the manager by securing a third star for Les Bleus this summer.
‘You shouldn’t take [success] for granted’ – Rabiot
“You always want to finish on a high note; it’s the lasting impression you leave behind that matters most,” Rabiot told The Guardian ahead of Deschamps’ final tournament with Les Bleus. The former manager of AS Monaco, Olympique de Marseille, and Juventus is expected to finish his tenure after the tournament, with Zinédine Zidane tipped to be his successor.
“I think that in France, people often overlook the accomplishments of the national team in recent years. People abroad tend to admire it more, perhaps because they wish for similar success,” Rabiot added.
“If they had a manager like Deschamps, with his record, they would be extremely pleased. I believe it’s important not to take our achievements for granted because they’re not a given … sometimes we focus too much on how certain things unfolded instead of truly appreciating what has been accomplished.”
GFFN | Luke Entwistle