Dembele Defends Mbappe, Says Criticism of France Captain Has Gone Too Far
France forward Ousmane Dembele has publicly defended captain Kylian Mbappe, telling Spanish newspaper Marca that criticism of the Real Madrid striker is 'very, very unfair' and has become excessive. Mbappe has faced intense scrutiny following Real Madrid's trophy-less season and questions about his leadership of the French national team. The comments come as France prepare to open their World Cup campaign against Senegal on Tuesday.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca ahead of France's World Cup opener against Senegal, Ousmane Dembele said critics of Kylian Mbappe have gone too far, describing his teammate as 'an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch.' Mbappe has faced heightened scrutiny since joining Real Madrid in 2024, with the club failing to win either LaLiga or the Champions League this season, while his leadership of the French national team has also been questioned. Dembele argued that the level of attention directed at Mbappe — down to trivial details about his appearance — is disproportionate and unfair given his status as a human being. France defender Lucas Hernandez also backed Mbappe, saying the forward is '100 per cent motivated' for the World Cup and will use the criticism as fuel. Dembele additionally paid tribute to outgoing coach Didier Deschamps, who will step down after the tournament following more than a decade in charge, and expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of Zinedine Zidane eventually taking over the role.
What's missing
Neither source details the specific nature of the leadership concerns raised about Mbappe with the French national team beyond a vague mention that pundits and supporters have questioned his leadership since he inherited the captaincy.
How coverage differed
Both outlets reported the story in largely neutral terms using the same core quotes. A minor factual discrepancy exists: Channel NewsAsia describes Dembele as 'last year's Ballon d'Or winner,' while BBC describes him as 'a contender for this year's Ballon d'Or,' suggesting a difference in how each outlet characterised his current status.
What different sources said
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
Critics of Mbappe have gone 'too far', says Dembele
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
Dembele says criticism of France captain Mbappe has gone too far
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