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France head coach Didier Deschamps has affirmed that Kylian Mbappe is mentally strong and fully concentrated ahead of their FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash with Morocco. The Les Bleus captain was recently subjected to offensive remarks from a Paraguayan politician following France’s narrow knockout victory over the South American side.

Deschamps confident about Mbappe’s mindset

Despite the controversy surrounding the comments made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, Deschamps made it clear that Mbappe’s focus remains intact. The French manager stressed that the incident has not affected the team’s atmosphere or the captain’s preparation for their encounter at Foxborough Stadium.

Addressing the media about Mbappe’s condition, Deschamps said, “Kylian is in a good place mentally. He’s ready for tomorrow.” The coach highlighted that the squad’s unity and collective spirit are helping them handle the pressures of the tournament, particularly as they prepare for a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final against the Atlas Lions.

Controversial remarks spark outrage

The issue began after France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay, decided by an Mbappe penalty. Following the match, Amarilla, a member of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical party, posted highly offensive comments online. The French Football Federation condemned her words as “completely unacceptable,” after the politician made remarks targeting Mbappe’s heritage and intellect.

Amarilla’s inflammatory comments described Mbappe in deeply derogatory terms, even suggesting that Paraguay’s players should have confronted him physically after the match. Her statements were widely denounced across the global football community for their discriminatory tone and lack of sportsmanship.

Mbappe responds to the criticism

The Real Madrid forward, currently joint-second in the tournament’s goal charts with seven goals alongside Erling Haaland and just behind Lionel Messi’s eight, responded firmly on social media. Directly addressing the senator, Mbappe wrote: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, a nation that has played with passion and honour throughout the competition.”

He further expressed disappointment that her behaviour diverted attention from Paraguay’s on-field achievements. “Because of your reckless and prejudiced comments, the world has forgotten your team’s remarkable effort during this World Cup, replaced instead by the image of an irresponsible woman who discredits her country,” Mbappe added.

Focus returns to Morocco encounter

With the off-field matter addressed, Deschamps is determined to keep his side grounded as they prepare to face a formidable Morocco team. The Atlas Lions have impressed throughout the tournament, advancing from their group after drawing with Brazil and defeating Haiti and Scotland convincingly. They then eliminated the Netherlands on penalties in the round of 32 before securing a 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16. While France have stood out as one of the strongest teams in the competition, Deschamps remains cautious. “No, it’s just enjoyment. There’s no euphoria in training, never. We respect Morocco a lot,” he stated.

The French coach also expressed satisfaction with his squad’s physical condition as they approach the final stages of the tournament. “The post-match data is good, very good in fact. We’re adapting, and I don’t mind if a player skips a session to be in better shape for the next one,” Deschamps concluded, underlining France’s careful approach as they aim to maintain their dominance on the world stage.