Kylian Mbappe explained why he doesn’t make runs in behind anymore ahead of France’s huge quarter-final clash against Portugal.
France, who beat Belgium in the last-16, face Portugal for a spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
Mbappe will look to add to his goal account, having just scored once so far in Germany.
And he made an omission about his style of play with the national team ahead of France resuming their campaign.
In a pre-match press conference, Mbappe referenced Paul Pogba, who received a request for France’s last game at Euro 2024, as the reason as to why he doesn’t make darting runs in behind anymore.
“Why do I not make runs in behind anymore? It depends on the team,” he explained.
“When we had Pogba for example, I could just blindly make a run and he would find me. Now I have to adapt to a different situation.”
Pogba was ineligible for selection for Euro 2024 following his positive doping test.
He was given a four-year ban, which runs till August 2027 as the suspension starts from when he first tested positive.
The former Manchester United midfielder will be 34-years-old when the ban ends, raising questions over whether his career will continue after that.
But he insists he’s ‘not finished’ and vows to keep fighting the ‘injustice’ that landed him a ban.
“If you don’t see a video where I say that I am stopping with football it’s because I am still a football player. I am still here, still positive, I have an opportunity to fight what in my view is an injustice. We’ll see, things will go better. I don’t know if you saw the whole interview, but they only put up a part of it were I hadn’t even finished speaking yet,” he said.
“Pogba is not finished, Pogba is here and until you see me say I’m finished, don’t worry. I still feel like a player, I am training and in these moments I must only be positive. I am spending a lot of time with my family, seeing my kids grow up. I am not doing what I love, which is football, but I am really eager to get back. I am so eager, I feel like a kid who wants to be a professional.”
