Zidane Steps Back, Rabiot Confirms New Coach's Low-Key Philosophy

Zinédine Zidane has chosen discretion as his guiding principle leading the France national team, and his players have already noticed. On the eve of the trip to Turkey for the Bleus’ first match in the new Nations League edition, Adrien Rabiot painted a striking portrait of his new coach at Thursday’s press conference.

“He tries to step back as much as possible. To make sure we talk about the players as much as possible,” the midfielder explained. A stance Rabiot views as beneficial for the squad: “It can allow players to be more at ease sometimes.” The player nonetheless acknowledged the symbolic weight Zidane carries in French football. “It’s still the case that he has a superior status. We know very well his importance in French football. His aura. He takes up a lot of space and people expect a lot from him.”

On the sporting front, Rabiot listed concrete changes since Zidane arrived to replace Didier Deschamps. “Different ways of doing things, different training sessions, different ideas. Quite a few things we’ve worked on with the coach within the group,” he detailed, before underlining continuity of purpose: “With Didier Deschamps as with Zinédine Zidane, the objective is to represent France at the highest level.”

Facing Turkey, Rabiot did not hide behind platitudes. “The main objective is still to win. We’ll be very much expected to deliver on our play because the coach is new. I imagine that’s mainly what we’ll be judged on.” A pressure that Zidane himself seems to have accepted. Asked about his own aura, the coach answered pragmatically: “You just have to accept how things are. I’m not looking for that and I’m not here for that.”

Rabiot, currently in discussions with AC Milan over a contract extension, will play this match in a personal context also under scrutiny.