Ousmane Dembélé asked Kylian Mbappé to put in extra defensive effort | OneFootball

The World Cup is just around the corner. And for France, the reigning World Cup runners-up, the objective is clear: to reach a third consecutive final and secure a third crown. A difficult but far from impossible task for a team considered one of the hot favourites to lift the trophy.

And to achieve this, Les Bleus will notably be able to rely on Ousmane Dembélé (29), the reigning Ballon d’Or holder and winner of the last two Champions League titles, whose standing in the dressing room has changed in recent months.

So much so that he is now able to discuss important matters with the squad’s biggest stars, including Kylian Mbappé (27), his captain, with whom, according to L’Équipe, he has reportedly raised the need for the Real Madrid player to show greater defensive commitment, so as to better integrate into the team and their mentality.

The discussions, which were always respectful – sometimes light-hearted, sometimes more serious – are enjoyed by both men, whose bond has grown stronger over the years, both on and off the pitch. A testament of the good atmosphere that prevails within a group with high ambitions. 

GFFN | Léo Aschi