Didier Deschamps has called on Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier to let Kylian Mbappe “breathe a little bit” by resting the forward ahead of France’s World Cup bid.
Mbappe has started all nine of PSG’s Ligue 1 and Champions League games this season, scoring 10 times.
The 23-year-old also played 90 minutes in France’s 2-0 UEFA Nations League win over Austria on Thursday, opening the scoring before Olivier Giroud finished off the game.
PSG have 11 games to play before France head to Qatar, but Deschamps hopes Mbappe will not be involved in all of those games.
“I know [Galtier] still wants to play Kylian. But from time to time he needs to breathe a little,” Deschamps told Telefoot.
“He needs to play a few minutes less. It won’t hurt him – quite the opposite.”
Mbappe led the way against Austria in shots (seven), shots on goal (three) and touches in the opposition’s half (10), while no player created more chances (three).
After scoring his 28th international goal in 58 games, Mbappe admitted he felt “much more freedom” playing alongside team-mate Giroud than at club PSG.
While Mbappe’s place at the World Cup is all but guaranteed, Giroud faces uncertainty over his place in the squad once Karim Benzema returns from injury.
Asked if he planned to name Giroud in his World Cup traveling group, Deschamps said: “If I knew… I just know he’s doing everything he can to be there.”
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