Firm and relatively clear focus. During his tour of media meals a few days before his first list of 2023, Didier Deschamps gave two interviews to the Figaro and at Parisian in which he goes around the subject concerning him, in particular the consequences of the Le Graët affair and his relationship with France 98, mentioned as very distant by several of the world champions of the time.
In question, a cold war with Zidane, whose activism behind the scenes to take the post of coach at DD would not have pleased the Basque, the latter, if we are to believe certain rumors. Rumors that Deschamps wanted to nip in the bud in Le Parisien: “The context has led to a sporting rivalry between us. It was not me nor him who created it. I don’t have a problem with that. As long as there is respect between us, that’s the main thing”. Also asked about his three-day silence at the time of the affair, DD replied with a pirouette: “I have known longer silences. I said what I had to say. I could repeat the same words today”.
In Le Figaro, the coach would also like to point out that he did not cut ties with France 98, as Christophe Dugarry or Emmanuel Petit implied.
“I’m not the only one missing from the WhatsApp group, there are only 14 1998 alumni in it. We must not touch France 98. France 98 is sacred. France 98 is a symbol of unity. Do not count on me to go in the direction of division. Whether some come punctually or not during the gatherings, that is up to us. That I had a problem with “Duga” (Christophe Dugarry, cold with the coach), yes. The important thing is that France 98 is doing well, with different affinities and routes.