Zidane issues Mbappe fitness update, praises Arda Guler ahead of Turkiye vs France: ‘A very great player’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane is back in management and is set to take charge of his first match with the France national team tomorrow night.

Having replaced Didier Deschamps as the Les Bleus head coach, Zidane will manage his first game tomorrow against Turkiye in the UEFA Nations League.

Ahead of the match at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, the former Real Madrid player and coach addressed the media in a press conference.

Update on Kylian Mbappe

Leading up to the game, Real Madrid superstar and France captain Kylian Mbappe missed one of the team’s training sessions due to illness.

And, for today’s press conference, Zidane was accompanied by vice-captain Adrien Rabiot instead of the forward, leading to some concerns about his availability for the game tomorrow.

However, Zidane eased those fears, confirming that all was well with Mbappe and that he would be ready to play against Turkiye.

Mbappe will be fit and ready insists Zidane. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

“The obligation is a player and the coach. It was Rabiot today,” he said, as quoted by RMC Sport, when asked about Mbappe’s absence from the press conference.

“Kylian is fine, he had a minor setback but nothing serious, he will be ready to play tomorrow,” he added, issuing an update on the Real Madrid attacker.

During the press conference, Zidane also reflected on his journey with Mbappe, having first noticed him at a trial with Real Madrid back in 2012 to now coaching him with the national team.

“What I saw in him was his potential when he came for his trial at Real Madrid. Everyone was excited about the idea of ​​seeing him play for Real Madrid. It didn’t happen, and we know the rest of the story,” the legendary Frenchman stated.

Praise for Arda Guler

Arda Guler will face Kylian Mbappe’s France. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Zidane also reserved some praise for another Real Madrid player, Arda Guler, who will be coming up against his France team tomorrow.

The Turkish playmaker has made a strong start to the season under Jose Mourinho and Zidane highlighted his personality, saying:

“Arda is a very great player. He has a lot of personality. I’m happy for him and Real Madrid.”

Come tomorrow, it will be Mbappe vs Guler in Turkey, as Zidane prepares to take charge of his first-ever match as the France manager.