Didier Deschamps has asked PSG boss Christophe Galtier to rest Mbappe from time to time ahead of the World Cup. PSG have 11 more games before the World Cup starts in November, including four in the Champions League.
The heat is on, and the race to Qatar is underway. The battle between national team managers and club coaches has already begun. The silly decision by FIFA, hiding behind inclusion, to hand the World Cup hosting rights to Qatar set the ball rolling.
Weather constraints have caused the World Cup to be shifted from its usual time in the middle of the year (Between June and July) to November.
With the Mundial taking place in November (in the middle of the season), players will not have rested well and we might be in for surprises in the tournament this year.
The coach of Les Bleus, Didier Deschamps, fired the first salvo. Following the 2-0 loss to Denmark in the UEFA Nations League, the former World Cup winner has asked coach Christophe Galtier to give his star Kylian Mbappe some rest ahead of the Mundial.
Deschamps pleads for rest for Mbappe
With the World Cup just around the corner, the UEFA Nations League matches during the just concluded international break were a perfect avenue for national team managers to test out some of their tactics in a competitive game.
France faltered badly, giving their manager plenty of concern. The 2-0 loss to Denmark has shown Didier Deschamps that problems lie ahead. Following the loss, Deschamps has asked the coach of Paris Saint Germain, Christophe Galtier, to rest Kylian Mbappe in some games. Due to the World Cup in November, there are fixture congestions across Europe.
Deschamps believes that Mbappe is overworked and needs the chance to breathe in between games. It is a tough ask, with club bosses working under pressure to deliver. For Galtier, it is his first season at PSG. He would want to make it a memorable one. Though the Paris club sits top of Ligue 1, Galtier will want to keep a firm grasp on the position with Marseille breathing down their necks.
No rest for Mbappe
The hopes of Les Bleus at the World Cup hinge on the performance of Kylian Mbappe. The France national team is battling injuries to key players and will want their best legs for the tournament to be as fresh as possible. Mbappe, who signed a bumper contract when he turned down the advances of Real Madrid, is expected to lead the attack for Les Bleus.
The forward has been in scintillating form this season. The former Monaco man has scored ten goals in nine games this term. Mbappe has been integral to the successes of PSG this season, and Deschamps wants him fully fit ahead of the World Cup.
The pressure is on Galtier, but it is unlikely the PSG boss will give Mbappe the rest Deschamps craves. The Les Bleus manager told French outlet Telefoot he knows Galtier wants Mbappe to play, but from time to time, the striker should be allowed to breathe a little.
Out of a possible 810 minutes from nine games this season, Mbappe has played 767. It is an indication of the importance of the striker to the Paris club.
