France manager Didier Deschamps has pleaded with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) boss Christophe Galtier to rest Kylian Mbappe with one eye on November's FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
World Cup defending champions France have endured a tough UEFA Nations League season, and after Sunday night's 2-0 defeat to Denmark in Copenhagen, concerns have been raised if Didier Deschamps' men are ready to create history in Qatar this winter. With an eye on the highly-anticipated FIFA World Cup, the French manager has pleaded with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) boss Christophe Galtier to rest sensational forward Kylian Mbappe.
The club football season will end in November and December so that Qatar can host the World Cup, but managers are worried about player availability because of a relentless fixture schedule.
France's coach Deschamps has also been vocal about his desire for the Ligue 1 champions to give his star striker Mbappe some time to heal before the November start for Les Bleus in Qatar. PSG are set to play 11 more fixtures before the beginning of the competition, including four in the Champions League.
Deschamps told French outlet Telefoot, "I know he [Galtier] still wants to play Kylian. But from time to time: to be able to breathe a little bit, to have a few good minutes less, it won't fail him, quite the contrary."
PSG's Mbappe has scored ten goals in nine games this season, missed just one league game thus far, and has played in both of France's final two Nations League group stage contests. The Parisian club have been flying high this season and although legendary strikers Lionel Messi and Neymar have struck form, the 23-year-old's performance has been key to the club's bright start under Galtier. Hence, it is really hard to envisage a world where Mbappe would be rested and rotated given that PSG would be desperate to make a mark in Champions League this season.