Chevalier, Zaïre-Emery and Doué: Deschamps pulls no punches!

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·27. August 2025

Chevalier, Zaïre-Emery and Doué: Deschamps pulls no punches!

Didier Deschamps, the coach of the French National Team, was at a press conference on the sidelines of the gathering of the Bleus. The discussion included the Paris Saint-Germain, with the possibility of seeing goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier (23 years old) play, the non-call-up of Warren Zaïre-Emery (19-year-old midfielder) and the position of Désiré Doué (20 years old) in midfield rather than in attack. Comments relayed by RMC Sport.

Deschamps "Logically, Lucas Chevalier will have to experience his first selection sooner or later."

Will Lucas Chevalier play? "He is here, on a personal level his club change exposes him more. Not that he didn't have any spotlight at Lille, but it's different at PSG. There is a hierarchy among the goalkeepers, even if it can evolve. I take nothing away from Mike who was able to be very decisive with us in March and then against Germany in June. I'm not going to complain about having three very high-level goalkeepers and it has often been the case. For Lucas, it will be here or later but it will happen at some point. I maintain the number 1 as long as he is performing but logically Lucas Chevalier will have to experience his first selection sooner or later."

Deschamps does not promise immediate playing time, as these are matches to qualify for the World Cup and not friendlies where rotation is more common. Chevalier could play, he is an excellent goalkeeper. But he emphasizes the hierarchy and Maignan's good performances, so we expect to see the latter for now. That's the way it is, the competition is very tough. The young Parisian goalkeeper still has time. Being number 2 in Bleus, is not nothing.

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Deschamps "I'm not worried about Warren"

"Zaïre-Emery absent? For Warren, his situation has evolved as in the second part of last season. He has very high competition and less playing time. He should keep confidence in himself even if it's not ideal to play less. He also had a premature rise. I'm not worried about Warren, he must have 7 selections, he has everything for him and in front of him. But occasionally, at PSG there are three players who start the matches ahead of him."

Zaïre-Emery has often been called up since he was a starter at PSG and his potential is not forgotten, but it is also logical that there is competition. He plays a little less in Paris, also because he has been less efficient. He will therefore need to regain regularity and "impact" in his match participation.

This should push him to redouble his efforts. Be careful though about the blow that confidence could take. With a slight "injustice", as he was cut off in his stride by a long ankle injury. It's up to him to get back on top.

Deschamps "I put him in the middle to balance."

Désiré Doué in midfield rather than in attack? For Désiré Doué, I put him in the middle to balance because otherwise you will say that I am too offensive a coach. But Olise and Cherki are also offensive midfielders like Doué. Doué is less decisive in the middle than in attack but he has the ability and versatility to play in the middle as well."

Doué has played more in midfield at the start of the season at PSG, while also being a striker at times. This is part of his versatility. He is rather offensive, of course, but has also shown that he knows how to recover balls. There is a desire to have such a player in the group. While Deschamps has selected several strikers, considering him primarily as a midfielder here is not unreasonable. Which does not prevent changing during a match.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.