Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines (France) (AFP)
Lucas Hernandez declared unfit by Bayern but waited for Clairefontaine, Kylian Mbappé still embarrassed but left in the hands of the Blues: Didier Deschamps must deal with the interests of clubs sometimes tempted by the interference, while others are more accommodating.
Munich coach Niko Kovac and the coach of the Bleus played a small distance game on Thursday, the day of the announcement of the list for the Euro-2020 qualifications in Iceland and Turkey.
"I'm assuming he will not go with his national team," said the first before the reception of Hoffenheim, eventually dried by Hernandez because of a painful knee. "Today if I take it it's not to annoy Kovac or Bayern," replied the second.
And Deschamps to unveil an anecdote: "In September, he wanted me (Hernandez) summon me so that I put him in the rhythm and he is good with Bayern! If I listen to club coaches ..."
The one he "listens" with the most attention, however, is the doctor of the Blues, Franck Le Gall. On the side of the French Federation, we proceed as follows: the chief doctor contacts his counterpart in the club in case of injury, then he gives his opinion to the coach who decides in the last resort, after taking the temperature from the player concerned.
- The Lampard call -
There is sometimes friction between "the interests of a club coach and mine", but "I have two games that are very important and I need all my players too," slid Thursday Deschamps. Adding not without malice: anyway, Hernandez has "want to come".
The former coach of Monaco, Juve and Marseille communicates more or less with club coaches, according to the affinities and habits of each.
In September, he made the decision not to call N'Golo Kanté after talking with Chelsea coach Frank Lampard on the phone. "If it's still in this sense I think they will adore me," laughed Deschamps, having fun phone call that he could pass back to coach Blues: "It would be nice if you play Olivier Giroud a little bit! "
In October, he made the opposite decision with Kylian Mbappé, still on Saturday with the Paris SG, but called for the trip to Iceland and the reception of Turkey. And obviously, Deschamps is not used to interact with the Parisian coach.
Do you speak with "DD" of these things ?, Thomas Tuchel was asked Friday.
"No".
But you speak with him?
"Not too much, no," laughed the German technician.
- The pressure of Munich -
If PSG is not a fan of interference with the selections, it is a tradition in Bayern Munich.
His bosses Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who often play upbeat when it comes to protecting their players or their interests, regularly plead against the international calendar and the obligation to release their stars, which they pay handsomely.
Hoeness has sometimes compared the situation of Bayern to that of an "employer who leaves his best assets at the disposal of another company" and who recovers them sick or injured because of an accident at work.
Paradoxically, if they consider that their internationals are "mistreated", the Bavarian leaders also rise to the niche.
When Manuel Neuer appeared to be threatened in his status as Mannschaft's number one goalkeeper, Hoeness, in a fit of anger, threatened to no longer make his internationals available. The fiery president then retracted.
"I do not let myself be swayed by this kind of thing," said coach Joachim Löw, a great friend of Deschamps, and used to, like his counterpart, to make a difference when it comes to the Bavarian club.
jta-ama-ah-CPB / f br / ole
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