Zidane as selector: Udol sees Champions League as his passport to France

Zinédine Zidane attended Sunday evening’s Trophée des champions at Bollaert, where RC Lens beat PSG 1-0, accompanied by his assistant David Bettoni. The new France manager had his eyes on the Paris internationals present — Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Maghnes Akliouche, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Lucas Digne — but not only them.

Florian Thauvin, already recalled by Didier Deschamps shortly before the World Cup before ultimately being left out of the final squad, stood out in this showcase match. As did his teammate Matthieu Udol. The former Metz player, who arrived at Lens a year ago, has taken on a new dimension to the point of establishing himself as a credible candidate for the national team.

Questioned at a press conference this Thursday, the 30-year-old left-back did not shy away from the subject. “There is a new manager. It’s a good thing that it’s Zinédine Zidane, I think everyone likes that,” he said, before adding that the key to such promotion lay in consistency: “by continuing to perform and to progress”.

Udol shows lucidity about his chances without getting carried away. “My objective is to perform and if I deserve it, it will happen but it’s not on my mind. It’s an objective of course, I think I wasn’t far off last season. Perhaps the cards will be reshuffled, we’ll see, but the main thing is RC Lens.”

The Champions League, which Lens will play on September 8, 9 and 10, appears to him as the best possible springboard. “It’s the highest competition you can play at club level. Performing at that level certainly opens other doors. I’m aware that it’s a test of the highest level of club football which certainly corresponds to the highest level of international football.” Zidane’s first squad list is expected on September 17: Udol will therefore have the chance to make his case in the Champions League before the manager delivers his verdict.