Furious Kylian Mbappe ‘wanted to hold PRESS CONFERENCE’ to blast France team-mate Giroud over row ahead of Euro 2020

KYLIAN MBAPPE was reportedly left feeling ‘attacked’ and ‘angry’ after team-mate Olivier Giroud’s comments that he doesn’t receive enough service while playing for France.

And such was his ‘fury’ at the Chelsea forward’s opinion, that he wanted to release a statement in order to hit back.

The pair were both part of Les Bleus’ World Cup-winning frontline three years ago.

And both are in Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2020 squad, although Giroud’s starting berth is likely to be taken by the returning Karim Benzema.

After coming on to score twice against Bulgaria on Tuesday night, ‘degraded’ Giroud, 34, appeared to accuse his team-mates of not picking out his runs enough.

He told L’Equipe du Soir: “I was a little quiet because, sometimes, I make runs and the balls aren’t forthcoming.

“I am not saying that I always make the best runs, but I am seeking to offer solutions in the box.”

According to L’Equipe, Mbappe was angered by Giroud’s comments – and wanted to call an impromptu press conference in order to hit back with some of his own.

Deschamps, all too aware of how squad disharmony has hindered France campaigns of yesteryear, has tried to diffuse the situation.

The 52-year-old said: “If you received the ball after each time you called for it, it is always the same, the attacker says, ‘I am making runs but it’s on the midfield’.

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“The midfielders will say that it is on the attackers.

“Sometimes, the pass isn’t forthcoming, sometimes it is down the movement. But this is not a stigmatisation of Kylian or whoever.

“Kylian, I spoke to him at half-time. He knows it very well, Olivier does not have the same profile as Karim.

“He has a more axial position of pivot, while in the first half, the three could switch to be in any zone.

“Olivier does not have the same profile. They have choices to make, they don’t always have to be interpreted. If they take an individual action instead of passing, it is up to them to choose, when it is not the game that imposes on them.”

France begin their campaign against Germany on Tuesday, before taking on Portugal and Hungary in their other Group F tussles.

Benzema, 33, had to hobble out of their win over Bulgaria earlier this week.

But Deschamps is confident that the Real Madrid star will be available for the tournament – likely leaving Giroud stuck on the bench.

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk