Adrien Rabiot: ‘In France, people don’t realise what Les Bleus have achieved in these past few years.’ | OneFootball

Didier Deschamps is preparing to take charge of his final FIFA World Cup as manager of the France national team. He has often been criticised, particularly in France, for the style of play. However, one of his most trusted servants, Adrien Rabiot (31), has leapt to his defence during an interview with The Guardian.

Deschamps’ record with Les Bleus is elite. Having taken charge in 2014, he has led his nation to two World Cup finals, winning one (Russia 2018). He also took his nation to the final of Euro 2016. Deschamps will now look to reach his third consecutive World Cup final, following defeat to Argentina on penalties in 2022. 

Rabiot, who is the third-most capped player in this France side under Deschamps, wants to pay a “beautiful hommage” by adding a third star above Les Bleus’ crest this summer.

‘I don’t think you should get used to [the levels of success] because it isn’t normal’ – Rabiot

“You always want to finish on a good note; it is the image that you leave that lingers longest in the mind,” Rabiot told The Guardian ahead of Deschamps’ final tournament as manager of Les Bleus. The former AS Monaco, Olympique de Marseille, and Juventus manager will step aside after the tournament. Zinédine Zidane is his touted successor.

“I think, in France, people don’t realise what the France national team has achieved in these past few years. I think people abroad are more admiring, quite simply because they want it to happen to them,” Rabiot continued.

“And I think that if they had a manager like Deschamps, who has had as many results as he has, they would be extremely happy. I don’t think you should get used to [the levels of success] because it isn’t normal … sometimes we have highlighted how things happened too much instead of looking at what actually happened.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle