Dembele Defends Mbappe Amid Criticism
France forward Ousmane Dembele has come to the defense of national team captain Kylian Mbappe, labeling the criticism surrounding the star striker as "very, very unfair." Speaking ahead of France's World Cup opener against Senegal on June 17, Dembele told Spanish publication Marca that some critics have gone too far.
Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, endured a trophyless season with the Spanish giants this year, failing to win La Liga or the UEFA Champions League. Despite his prolific goal-scoring, scrutiny over his captaincy, performances, public appearances, and behavior has intensified, even as he prepares to lead France in the World Cup.
"The criticism towards him is very, very unfair. Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian. He is an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he's Kylian Mbappe. They should not keep going after him. Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not... it is too much. He is still a human being," Dembele said.
Dembele, who has developed a close bond with Mbappe during their time together for France, emphasized Mbappe's leadership qualities. "With the France team, he is very good with us; he is a leader," he added.
The duo are expected to play a crucial role in France's bid for a third World Cup title, following their 2018 triumph and 2022 runners-up finish, where Mbappe scored four goals across two finals.
Tribute to Deschamps and Zidane Speculation
Dembele also paid tribute to coach Didier Deschamps, who is set to step down after over a decade in charge. Deschamps led France to a World Cup win in 2018 and a UEFA Nations League title, along with a runner-up finish in 2022. Dembele hailed him as an "exceptional manager" who will "forever remain a legend."
On the possibility of Zinedine Zidane taking over, Dembele expressed optimism. Zidane, a 1998 World Cup winner with France and former Real Madrid manager, has been linked with the national team job but has declined discussions while Deschamps remains in charge. "We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench," Dembele said. "I am convinced he would do a fantastic job."
