Didier Deschamps expects Paris Saint-Germain’s stars to be fully focused following their Champions League triumph as France prepare to face Spain in the Nations League semi-finals. The France boss also threw his support behind Ousmane Dembele as a contender for the Ballon d’Or.
PSG lifted their first Champions League title in emphatic fashion, thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 on Saturday. French internationals Warren Zaire-Emery, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Lucas Hernandez, and Dembele all featured in the historic win.
Meanwhile, Marcus Thuram and Benjamin Pavard were on the losing side for Inter, leaving little time for either camp to rest ahead of today’s clash in Stuttgart.
“They are here, so I am counting on them,” Deschamps told reporters.
“I found them very happy on Monday evening, of course, with a certain fatigue as well. Then, there were Benjamin and Marcus on the other side. The feelings and emotions were not the same.
“Ideally, when there is a peak like that, of course, you always have to come back down, but now, we need to quickly get back up because the match is close.”
Dembele was named Champions League player of the season, and much of the talk since Saturday’s final has been about the Ballon d’Or award, with many seeing the PSG forward as the main rival to Spain and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
“Of course I am for Ousmane, since he is French and with the season he is celebrating,” Deschamps said.
“Obviously, this Nations League can bring some elements of response, the Club World Cup too. If I have to choose, I tell you Ous, one hundred percent, of course.
“If you ask me about the Spaniards, I don’t think they will tell you the same thing. But obviously, Ousmane, with the season he is having, deserves it.”
While Kylian Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid at the end of last season without winning the Champions League, and ended this season without a league title in Spain, he was the top scorer in LaLiga and remains an important part of Deschamps’ plans.
“You know his season as well as I do. He is now in very good shape and with a much better footballing and physical potential,” Deschamps said.
“Nothing changes, Kylian will have a central position.”
Germany and Portugal meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday in Munich, and the final on Sunday will also take place at the Allianz Arena, the scene of PSG’s Champions League triumph.
