In an exclusive interview with Get French Football News, former France defender William Gallas expressed his belief that William Saliba’s performances for the national team do not match those he exhibits at Arsenal, where he currently plays.
Previously, you mentioned that William Saliba had yet to replicate his Arsenal form for France. After the World Cup, has your perspective shifted? Additionally, how do you think Arsenal will manage in his absence?
His performance for France wasn’t as strong as his play for Arsenal.
While he had a decent showing, I’ve observed something specific—having been in a similar position myself. During the World Cup, Saliba played on the left side, whereas he typically takes the right side for Arsenal. This difference in positioning impacts his confidence. At Arsenal, he’s familiar with that right-side role; everything flows naturally for him since he’s right-footed. On the left, he faces challenges, needing to adapt to receiving the ball on his less dominant foot, which affects his control.
As I mentioned earlier, having experienced this in the 2006 World Cup, I noticed he seemed a bit unsettled, perhaps focusing too much on the tournament. Some may have missed this, but I could see it. So I would argue that while he had a solid performance, it wasn’t on par with the level we see at Arsenal. Additionally, he was playing alongside Dayot Upamecano, who also occupied the right side during his time at Bayern Munich. This meant there was a decision to be made about who would play on the right side, and Upamecano was chosen. I do believe Saliba has even more to showcase in terms of his quality.
With Chelsea making significant investments again, do you think the continuous changes are hindering their progress? Or could the appointment of Alonso prove pivotal?
Alonso could indeed play a crucial role for them. Right now, while they have some talented players, it doesn’t guarantee immediate success. They require a manager capable of uniting the team and instilling confidence in the players to perform optimally as the season approaches.
Alonso has the unique opportunity to articulate his vision for the team. However, it’s important to note that he starts with a disadvantage due to the influx of new players, a new coach, and a different system.
Typically, it takes time to witness Chelsea at their best. I believe Alonso is essential in addressing these challenges and helping the team return to the level of performance we expect from them.
William Gallas spoke exclusively to Get French Football News, courtesy of iPredicta