France manager Didier Deschamps on difference between Kylian Mbappe a year on – ‘It’s mostly…’ | OneFootball

France manager Didier Deschamps has declared that Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe is in a different place to where he was at the start of the year, with the France captain missing games in 2024 in order to rest. Deschamps asserted that mentally he was in a better place.

Mbappe miss France’s final four games of the year last year, resting in October, and instead spending the weekend in Stockholm after being granted time off. He was also absent from their international clashes in November, but returned in March for their Nations League quarter-final with Croatia.

‘Psychological fatigue has physical impact’ – Deschamps

In June, against Spain and Germany in the final four, Mbappe looked much more like his best self, as was the case for Real Madrid. During those two clashes, Mbappe registered two goals and two assists, and Deschamps assured that he was looking more fresh.

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“Yes, no doubt,” he told Sport. “It had to do with his last six months in Paris. Physically, he’s doing very well, but it’s mostly psychological. Your mind influences your physical appearance. No one can measure psychological fatigue. The commute, the jet lag, the demands, it all adds up…”

Mbappe expresses doubts over calendar

The France captain also criticised the calendar, noting that impossibility of maintaining top form over the course of a full 60-game season these days, as it tends to be for the top stars. That said, the mental load on Mbappe looks to be gone, having now settled at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 26-year-old also assured that ‘everything was in place’ for a great year at club and international level.

Mbappe now looks established as the main star for Real Madrid. In his last eight La Liga games, Mbappe has 12 goals, double the amount the rest of his teammates have contributed in those matches.