Player, Didier Deschamps perfectly mastered the art of tackling.
Coach, he proves that he has not lost anything on this side even if the word replaced the crampons.
In an interview with Le Figaro, he reframed Michel Moulin, one of the two declared candidates (with Frédéric Thiriez) for the presidency of the French Federation (FFF) whose election will take place on February 13.
Moulin, in a mixture of populism and demagoguery, had seen fit to declare that he president, he would order the coach to recall Karim Benzema in the France team.
A Benzema who nevertheless hurt the Deschamps man by accusing him, half-heartedly, of racism a few years ago at the heart of the sex-tape affair that involved him with Mathieu Valbuena.
"There are some who like to make the buzz"
In front of the words of Moulin, Didier Deschamps answered him.
“There are those who like to make the buzz… I read his statements and I will answer him, even if I know that by doing so I feed the media machine.
It is especially useful to him, because he knows that he will be taken back by saying such things.
This gentleman should have applied for the post of coach.
As he apparently has his diplomas, he may have a chance to replace me.
This is not serious "
Deschamps also hinted, during the same interview, that he wanted Noël Le Graët to represent himself at the head of the FFF.
“It's no secret that I really appreciate my president,” he continues.
There has been a relationship of trust since 2012, we have done a good job on and off the pitch.
In this complicated period, he has this ability to make decisions and assume them.
He will announce his candidacy or not soon (smile).
It would be a very good thing, I will not say for myself, because it would be selfish on my part, but for French football.
See where the FFF was before it arrived and where it is today.
We can always do more, but we must also recognize the work done.
Amateur football too… ”
To drive the point home, Deschamps also responded indirectly to Frédéric Thiriez who stigmatizes a drop in the number of licensees at the FFF, to demand change at the head of the institution.
“This is not true, he slices.
It's a demago speech.
If we analyze the situation with the year that has just passed, find me a sports discipline that has not lost licensees in 2020?
That the candidates also take stock before the pandemic.
It's easy to put forward this kind of argument ... Obviously there are fewer licensees in football, but we know why.
"
