Deschamps explains Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana's France call-ups
France's manager Didier Deschamps has shared his thoughts on what he has observed from Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku and defender Wesley Fofana that led to their selection for the upcoming international break.
Nkunku consistently received selections for the France national team throughout 2022 after his first senior call-up. However, he was unable to participate in the World Cup in Qatar due to an injury.
The forward increased his total to eight appearances by playing two additional games in the summer of 2023 as he regained his fitness. However, he then sustained a knee injury during pre-season that necessitated surgery, causing him to miss a large part of the 2023/24 season.
Nkunku played in ten games for Chelsea during the middle of the season, but after another injury kept him out, he only came back to play in the last four matches.
This meant that the 26-year-old didn't make the roster for Euro 2024 and was also left out in September. However, his consistent playing time since the summer has convinced former Blues midfielder Didier Deschamps to bring back the ex-PSG and RB Leipzig player.
"There was a period when he wasn't part of the team because, unfortunately, he kept suffering minor injuries that hindered his ability to play consistently," Deschamps stated at a press conference on Thursday.
He hasn't spent a lot of time on the field with Chelsea, but whenever he's played, he brings a lot of energy. While injuries have definitely slowed down his development, it appears he's finally overcome them. Now, what he needs is more playing time and solid performances to help him get back to his peak form.
Nkunku shone brightly throughout our trip to the USA. Even though Nicolas Jackson has played in every Premier League match this season, Nkunku has also made a significant contribution across all tournaments, netting six goals in nine appearances.
Since Nkunku has started only four of those matches, he has scored a goal roughly every 57 minutes in all competitions this season.
Deschamps has brought Fofana back into the squad again. After missing over a year due to an injury, the center-back has performed exceptionally well since his comeback last summer and was selected again as soon as he was eligible in September.
After talking it over with Deschamps, Fofana made the choice to remain with Chelsea during the September transfer window. During that time, France played against Italy and lost 3-1, but they bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Belgium. Deschamps later shared his thoughts on Fofana's selection for the matches in October.
"The former Chelsea midfielder observed, 'He currently has a tailored program that involves playing in Premier League matches, and it's evident that he has reacted positively to it.'"
He has recently returned from a break, but over the past month, he has been able to play in matches and show his skills.
France is set to resume their Nations League matches as they take on Israel in Budapest on Thursday, October 10, followed by a trip to Belgium on Monday, October 14. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 7:45 PM.
The England team lineup was revealed today, and we’ll keep you updated on all of Chelsea's players who have received international call-ups in the days ahead.
Complete France Squad Listed
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Aréola from West Ham, Mike Maignan representing AC Milan, and Brice Samba who plays for Lens.
Defensive Players: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Théo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfield Players: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio), Manu Koné (Roma), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).
