Dembélé Defends Mbappé Against Unfair Criticism

France forward Ousmane Dembélé has come out in support of national team captain Kylian Mbappé. He believes the criticism aimed at the Real Madrid striker is “very, very unfair” and has gone too far.

Mbappé has faced a lot of negative comments in Spain after a season without trophies at Real Madrid. There is also ongoing debate in France about his role as captain since he took over in 2023.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca on Friday, Dembélé said the level of scrutiny on Mbappé often crosses a line. “The criticism towards him is very, very unfair,” he stated. “Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian.”

Dembélé explained that Mbappé’s global fame often leads to exaggerated reactions from fans and analysts. “He’s an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he’s Kylian Mbappé. They shouldn’t keep going after him.”

He also noted that even small things about Mbappé's behavior get blown out of proportion. “Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not… it’s too much. He’s still a human being. With the France team, he’s very good with us, he’s a leader.”

Dembélé’s comments come during a strong period for him. He is among the contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or after helping Paris Saint-Germain win back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles.

Both Dembélé and Mbappé are expected to play important roles for France in their upcoming World Cup matches. They will face Senegal, Iraq, and Norway in the group stage.

Dembélé also praised head coach Didier Deschamps, who will leave his position after the tournament. “He’s simply an exceptional coach,” Dembélé said. “He will forever remain a legend among French national team coaches.”

Deschamps led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and took them to the final in 2022. He is seen as one of the most successful coaches in France's history.

Looking ahead, Dembélé welcomed the idea of former France captain Zinedine Zidane becoming the national team coach in the future. “We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench. I’m convinced he would do a fantastic job,” he said.

Zidane, who won the World Cup in 1998 as a player and was a former Real Madrid coach, has been linked with the France job for a long time. He has not commented on the role while Deschamps is still in charge.