23 March 2023 , 18:40
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Kylian Mbappe has revealed he held clear-the-air talks with a “disappointed” Antoine Griezmann after the PSG superstar was made the new France captain.
“I told him I am not his superior,” said the World Cup’s top scorer.
Didier Deschamps has given the job to Mbappe, 24, even though the Atletico Madrid star is eight years older and has 117 caps for Les Bleus, compared to Mbappe's 66.
The France coach spoke to both men on Monday evening before naming Hugo Lloris’ successor. And before his first match in charge in a Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands on Friday, Mbappe said: “I spoke with Antoine because he was disappointed.
"It's a reaction that I can understand. I told him that in his place, I might have had the same reaction. He is 32 years old, he was one of the best, if not the best, of the Didier Deschamps era.
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"I told him that I am not his superior. He has experience in the France team that I don't have, which is valued by the whole group. We need him and his joie de vivre
“We are going to be hand in hand, him and me, to try to make this French team reign at world level. If he has something to say in front of the group, I will sit down and listen. Everyone is free to express themselves in this group.”
Mbappe paid a €10,000 fine rather than speak to the media in Qatar until after winning his third Man of the Match award in the last 16 win over Poland in Qatar.
The Paris-born star increased his power after signing a new contract at PSG last summer - and becoming the world’s highest paid sportsman - but said he won’t hold a press conference before every match like Lloris.
Mbappe and Griezmann were key to France during the World Cup (PA)“I am not going to change,” he said. “Everyone is a captain based on their personality. I'm going to be a different captain. I don't think the coach made me captain thinking I was going to do the same as Hugo. I know my words make noise. People will see me a little more often but I want to leave room for others so I must not monopolise the media space.”
The 2018 World Cup winner added: “Putting aside the responsibilities, it is above all a great pleasure. When the coach asks you if you want to become captain, your mouth immediately says yes. I did not think about it at all.
“He wants me to be a unifier, and lead the team. And that I can be a link between the old guard and the new generation and lead this team to win titles.
“Players who have played with me know that my first obsession is to win. And I don't win alone, but with the team.”
Deschamps, who was the winning captain at France 98, said: “I don’t have any advice for him, Kylian knows what he needs to do.”
Marcus and Khephren Thuram - the sons of France record caps holder Lilian Thuram - have been named in the senior squad for the first time together.
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