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France captain Kylian Mbappe has said he feels relaxed and in good shape ahead of his nation’s World Cup qualifying match against Azerbaijan in Paris, despite recently receiving treatment for a minor ankle issue sustained while playing for Real Madrid.
“The coach (Didier Deschamps) wants me to play. I don’t think there will be a major problem,” Mbappe told reporters on Thursday.
Deschamps added that the injury was “not prohibitive” and largely depended on the player’s sensitivity to his ankle.
Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain last season, said he has settled well into life in the Spanish capital.
“A career can have some slightly more complicated years, years where you have a little more hardship,” he said. “But in life, I think I’ve adapted well to Madrid. This isn’t an attack on France, but I’m indeed more relaxed here. The lifestyle is different. It’s less hectic than in Paris. I’ve managed to score goals, and in my game I’m also in a good mood, even if I think I can still do better.”
Deschamps, meanwhile, cautioned his players not to underestimate Azerbaijan. “Certainly, they’re not among the best European teams, but they’re coming off a draw against Ukraine,” he said.
He also noted that seven Azerbaijani players compete for Qarabag, which has won its first two Champions League pool matches.
France currently tops their qualifying group with two wins from two matches. They host Azerbaijan on Friday at Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes before travelling to Iceland three days later.
