Dayot Upamecano Highlights Lack Of Gratitude Towards Kylian Mbappe After France Omission

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Dayot Upamecano has voiced his concern over the perceived lack of appreciation for Kylian Mbappe following the latter's exclusion from France's Nations League squad. Didier Deschamps, the French coach, clarified that Mbappe's absence for the matches against Israel and Italy is temporary. Despite being fit for the October international break, Mbappe was rested, leading to questions about his omission.

Mbappe recently played in Real Madrid's 4-0 victory over Osasuna but failed to score for the fourth consecutive match. Since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, he has scored six goals in 11 LaLiga games but has underperformed his expected goals (xG) by 2.04. For France, he has netted 48 times in 86 appearances and contributed to their 2018 World Cup and 2020-21 Nations League triumphs.

Despite speculation surrounding his absence, Upamecano defended his teammate and expressed optimism about Mbappe's quick return to the national team. "Am I worried [about Mbappe]? No. You can't forget what he's done for the France national team. We lack a bit of gratitude towards him," Upamecano stated. "I hope to see him again quickly. You can't forget that he is our captain."

When questioned about whether Mbappe's absence might be due to physical or mental fatigue, Upamecano showed empathy towards his teammate’s situation. He acknowledged that players face numerous matches and highlighted mental health as a crucial factor. "There are many games, and I mentioned this at the start of the season," he said. "We're human, and mental well-being is a big factor for us."

Upamecano refrained from delving into specifics but reiterated Mbappe’s importance to the team: "I won't go into details, but as I said, he's our captain, and I hope he'll be back with us soon. He's very important to us."

The ongoing discourse around Mbappe’s absence underscores his significance within the French squad. His contributions have been pivotal in past successes, and there is anticipation for his return to bolster France’s future campaigns.