France winger Ousmane Dembele has defended captain Kylian Mbappe, saying scrutiny of the Real Madrid striker has gone “too far.” Mbappe has faced heavy criticism in Spain after Real failed to win La Liga or the Champions League in his two seasons, while his leadership of France has also been questioned.
“He’s an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he’s Kylian Mbappe,” Dembele told Marca.
Dembele, a Ballon d’Or contender after helping PSG to a second straight Champions League title, is set to join Mbappe in France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday.
He also praised coach Didier Deschamps, who will step down after the tournament, calling him “an exceptional coach” and welcoming the idea of Zinedine Zidane as a future successor.
