Headline: William Gallas Praises Zidane’s Impact on France’s National Team
Get French Football News sat down with former Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas to talk about Zinédine Zidane, what the French national team means to him, and his debut as manager of Les Bleus.
How do you assess Zinédine Zidane’s start in charge of the French national team and as someone who has worked alongside him with Les Bleus, can you tell me what the French national team truly means to him?
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France means a lot to him. It means a lot because he rejected many job offers from clubs, prioritizing his goal of managing the national team. What he demonstrated in his initial game was a shift towards a more offensive style.
Zidane made significant changes, including benching certain players and rotating the lineup, which everyone accepted. Normally, such changes could upset players, but Zidane’s humility and reputation as one of the world’s best playmakers earn him their respect.
Players respect his choices, and he effectively communicates with them. I believe that in the future, France could be on the verge of winning major titles, possibly claiming victory in the Euros. The squad is incredibly talented.
He manages some of the world’s most talented players, such as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. In your opinion, what can he possibly bring to them that they don’t already have? And what can he offer the less experienced among them?
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Zidane’s strong personality stands out, especially when he altered almost nine or ten players after just a few matches. Not every manager has the capability to do this, yet he successfully led the team to victory in a crucial game. This reflects his commitment to the team over individual players.
For Zidane, the team consists of more than just 11 players; it encompasses all 24 players, ensuring everyone is involved. He even replaced the goalkeeper, a bold move. The backup goalkeeper performed excellently, setting a standard that informs all players they must consistently perform to retain their starting positions.
Changing the manager at this time was wise, and we must honor Didier Deschamps for his contributions to the national team and the country. His impressive track record speaks for itself.
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We extend our congratulations and gratitude to him and wish Zizou the best in his new role.
William Gallas was speaking exclusively to Get French Football News courtesy of SeatPick, the leading platform for Arsenal tickets.
