Doué sacrificed by Zidane: Mbappé's repositioning claims an unfair victim

Désiré Doué is one of the big winners of the first international break under Zinedine Zidane, but the coach’s tactical choices prevent him from reaping the rewards. The Paris Saint-Germain winger made a decisive impact against Belgium on Monday night at Stade de France — scoring an equaliser followed by two assists for Michael Olise — and established himself as one of the revelations of these four Ligue des Nations matches. Yet it is he who pays the price for Zidane’s repositioning decision.

Consultant Walid Acherchour highlighted the contradiction: by placing Kylian Mbappé on the left wing of the attack and Ousmane Dembélé in the centre, the coach mechanically closes the door on Doué’s natural position. “He is the great unfair loser in this reshuffle,” Acherchour analysed. “If Mbappé stayed at number 9, Désiré Doué plays every day on the left. He brings pace and flair that Bradley Barcola doesn’t have for France.” For Acherchour, the PSG player’s non-selection is more a matter of “status management” than a sporting choice.

What strikes the consultant is precisely the player’s lack of deference to established hierarchies. “If he doesn’t need to pass to Mbappé, he won’t. He doesn’t have that respect for status. If he’s better positioned, if he needs to make the difference, he does it.” A rare freedom of expression and action for a 19-year-old playing in a squad where egos are plentiful.

Acherchour concludes with a clear ambition for the season ahead: “This must be his year. He must become a top-5 player in the world. He must be an important player for PSG and for France.” Words that sum up the growing expectations around a talent that circumstances, rather than ability, are keeping on the sidelines for now.