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Tag: Didier Deschamps

  • Didier Deschamps reveals why he dropped the Liverpool star for France’s match against Austria.

    Didier Deschamps reveals why he dropped the Liverpool star for France’s match against Austria.

    Didier Deschamps

    Didier Deschamps believes William Saliba was “more prepared” for France’s Euro 2024 match against Austria than Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.

    Despite being a significant member of Arsenal’s squad that finished second only to Manchester City in each of the last two Premier League seasons, Saliba has struggled to get consistent appearances at international level.

    However, the 23-year-old was picked alongside Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano in a surprise centre-back duo for France’s first group stage match against Austria on Monday, with the latter also under fire for his club performances last season.

    Deschamps’ choice proved right, as France kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory, with Saliba and Upamecano combining to make 12 clearances and nine recoveries while being dribbled past only once.

    Deschamps discusses centre-back decision-making.

    Didier Deschamps

    Despite a strong defensive performance, Deschamps was questioned about Konate’s exclusion from the starting lineup, with the 25-year-old coming off a season with Liverpool in which he appeared 37 times across all competitions.

    But Deschamps, who has previously claimed Saliba does things he ‘doesn’t like’, defended his selection, revealing that he thought Saliba was’more ready’ for the challenge than Konate.

    “I chose to play William Saliba because I believed he was better prepared than Konaté for such a contest. But I don’t want to lose anyone; we’ll need everyone,” Deschamps told reporters (via Get French Football News).

    “They (Saliba and Upamecano) have only played 120 minutes together for the France national team, but they have this potential to be really solid in one-on-one [situations], and even though they could improve on some clearances, they radiated a lot of strength and composure. “We needed that against such an opponent.”

    France faces a difficult assignment in their second Group D match against the Netherlands on Friday in Leipzig.

    More news…..

    Liverpool might make it third time lucky in the Real Madrid transfer rivalry this summer.

    Liverpool reportedly offered €50 million for Lille defender Leny Yoro, but the offer was rejected because the Ligue 1 club wanted more

    Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip, with Lille defender Leny Yoro surfacing as a target for the Reds this summer, alongside Real Madrid and Manchester United.

    Liverpool appear to be preparing to compete with Real Madrid for another summer acquisition.

    This summer, the Reds are likely to be looking for numerous new signings. Arne Slot, the new head coach, will begin directing pre-season training next month and may help integrate new arrivals to his roster when the team travels to the United States for three friendly matches. One player that has been linked with a move to Liverpool is Leny Yoro.

    The Lille centre-back has emerged as a target for the Reds during Slot’s inaugural summer transfer window.

    The ECHO knows that Liverpool is keeping an eye on Yoro with the intention of making a transfer this summer, while Manchester United is also understood to be interested. However, the Reds are aware that Real Madrid is interested in the midfielder, and it is expected that Yoro would transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu due to his desire to join the La Liga giants.

    However, Liverpool has a chance of beating the Spanish club to Yoro’s signature this summer. If a deal to Real Madrid fails, the Reds are ready to step up their pursuit of the centre-back.

    Liverpool has faced a summer transfer war with the La Liga champions before. The Reds planned to recruit Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco in 2022, but the France international ended up moving to Spain for a fee of up to £85 million instead.

    Just a year later, Liverpool was reportedly interested in signing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. Despite the Reds’ long-standing interest in the midfielder, Bellingham chose to sign to transfer to Madrid, and the club lost yet another target.

    Liverpool may hope for a different outcome in 2024. If Yoro prefers a move to Madrid and the La Liga heavyweights have the resources to execute the transaction, the Reds may not have much hope.

    However, Liverpool appears to be sticking in the race in the hope that an opportunity may occur. Following Joel Matip’s departure, the Reds might use a new centre-back, and Yoro would be an excellent choice.

  • Following Konate’s injury, Didier Deschamps answers to Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of “rest”

    Following Konate’s injury, Didier Deschamps answers to Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of “rest”

    Following Konate's injury, Didier Deschamps answers to Jurgen Klopp's criticism of "rest"

    After Jurgen Klopp recently criticised Ibrahima Konate for being left out of the France team owing to a hamstring issue, manager Didier Deschamps has responded.

    Due to an injury sustained last week, Konate will miss France’s forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar on November 18 and Greece on November 21.

    Axel Disasi of Chelsea will take the 24-year-old’s place, the French Football Federation revealed in a statement on Sunday night, citing a “small muscle injury to his left hamstring.”

    A “approximately two weeks” rehabilitation period has already been established, indicating that Konate should be ready for Liverpool’s November 25 match against Man City.

    It follows sardonic criticism of Deschamps’ usage of Konate during the October break, with Klopp telling the French manager that “that’s how you rest a player” following the Reds’ 5-1 victory against Toulouse at home.

    When questioned about Klopp’s remarks during a press conference on Monday, Deschamps stated, “It probably happened in the past and it will happen again at other moments.”

    “Because national team managers and club managers have different circumstances and goals.

    “Like any manager, I try to manage them.” They are able to handle them a little better during weeks when there are three games. We are here, and we are playing two games.

    Didier DeschampsDidier Deschamps

    French publication RMC Sport published Deschamps’ measured remarks, in which the 55-year-old went into additional detail regarding Konate’s injury.

    The choice was taken not to jeopardise Liverpool’s No. 5 so that “there is no problem for the rest of season in this calendar year,” according to the former midfielder for Marseille, Juventus, and Chelsea.

    “Ibou, as we previously informed you, did not participate in the Liverpool match in Toulouse, but he prepared for a potential role throughout the game,” Deschamps stated.

    “He experienced a hamstring issue. His testing came back normal, though.

    He requires some time to avoid taking any chances. He had already had an injury there.

    Neither the player’s nor my interests were served by it. He could have only been available for training on Friday or Saturday, at best.

    Joel Matip may still start for Man City against Liverpool, but if Deschamps is right, Konate should be ready.

    More news…….

    Jarell Quansah remains in place as England summons five Liverpool players.

    Expert: Liverpool's demand for Mohamed Salah will be "100%" accepted; "it's happening." Mohamed Salah moving from Liverpool to Saudi Arabia in 2024 is "inevitable," according to Gabby Agbonlahor. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former striker for Aston Villa stated that while Jurgen Klopp won't be pleased to lose him, it might be "good business" for the Merseysiders. Monday, October 30, Football Insider reported that despite continued Saudi interest, Liverpool will not sell their 31-year-old top player, Mohamed Salah, in January. The Saudi Pro League is reportedly working behind the scenes to recruit forward and Man City star Kevin De Bruyne to the Middle East in the summer of 2024, insiders have also told Football Insider. With 13 games played across all competitions, Salah has recorded 10 goals and four assists to start the 2023–24 campaign in customary fashion. His alleged £350,000-per-week deal is scheduled to end in June 2025. Agbonlahor said, "I do see Mo Salah in Saudi Arabia, 100%," to Ewan Kingsbury of Football Insider. "He is going to be the player with the biggest salary. It does occur, and I observe it during the summer. "There will be one year remaining on his contract, and Liverpool will be aware of this and able to find a replacement." "I don't believe Liverpool is motivated by money. With the requested fee, customers will receive anything they want. Even though Klopp won't want to part with him, it's possible that he'll be granted the money to find a younger replacement. "Whether Salah's legs will begin to fail in the upcoming years is unknown. In my opinion, it would be wise for business to let him depart in 2024

    Jarell Quansah remains in place as England summons five Liverpool players.

    Jarell Quansah, who will remain with the U21s, was one of five Liverpool youngsters called up to the England youth teams for the November international break.

    Against Toulouse, Quansah made his fifth start for Liverpool and had a chance to tie the score in the closing seconds, but his attempt was controversially disallowed.

    It followed another impressive performance from the 20-year-old, even though the Reds gave up three goals and saw Caoimhin Kelleher lose two more games due to offside calls.

    Prior to the match, Klopp stated that Quansah’s future was “very promising” and acknowledged that he was “surprised” by his pre-season potential.

    This belief also extends to the Three Lions lineup, as the center-back, Harvey Elliott, and Tyler Morton are included in Lee Carsley’s England U21s roster for this month.

    The England U21 team’s most recent qualifiers for the U21 Euros in 2025 are against Serbia on November 18 and Northern Ireland on November 21.

    During the October break, Elliott donned the captain’s armband, while Morton, who was placed on standby last month, has now been called up due to his Hull loan performances.

    With his loan club, Hull, Morton has started seven of the previous eight Championship games. Hull is presently tenth in the second division.

    Jarell Quansah

    In the meantime, Luke Chambers, who is close to breaking into the Liverpool first team, has been called up to the England U20s squad for their matches against Italy on November 16 and Germany on November 20.

    Calum Scanlon, another left-back with a lot of potential, has been called up by the England U19s for their matches in Marbella against Romania on November 15, Japan on November 18, and Mexico on November 21.

    Scanlon made his senior debut for the Reds during the last 24 minutes of last month’s 5-1 victory over Toulouse, coming in for Chambers off the bench.

    The lone Liverpool player in Gareth Southgate’s England team is Trent Alexander-Arnold