{"id":1346142,"date":"2024-03-26T18:30:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T18:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1346142"},"modified":"2024-03-26T18:35:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T18:35:14","slug":"william-saliba-didier-deschamps-france-playing-time","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/william-saliba-didier-deschamps-france-playing-time\/","title":{"rendered":"‘He does things I don’t like’ – France boss Didier Deschamps explains lack of minutes for William Saliba"},"content":{"rendered":"

Didier Deschamps has explained why Arsenal central defender William Saliba is struggling to get regular game time for the French national team.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 23-year-old is a guaranteed starter under Mikel Arteta, but that luxury hasn’t been afforded him internationally. Since debuting against Ivory Coast in March 2022, he’s accumulated 11 more caps while completing the full 90 minutes on five occasions.<\/p>\n

Competition for central defensive places in the current Les Bleus set-up offers one explanation, but the 2018 World Cup-winning coach feels there’s more to just others ahead of him in the cue.<\/p>\n

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    “He is having a good season, but he also does things that I don’t like so much,” he told reporters ahead of France’s international friendly with Chile.<\/p>\n

    “For France, he has limited game time, but when he plays, that hasn’t necessarily gone well. The hierarchy doesn’t favour him at the moment, but he is here. [Dayot] Upamecano has had game time, and perhaps William has had less.<\/p>\n

    “With certain players, I make sure to persevere because it can be confidence or little blockages that can shift. Some don’t have any concerns, some need game time. William has had less game time, so that doesn\u2019t allow him to be very calm.”<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    As mentioned, Saliba is a mainstay in the Gunners’ lineup; since relocating from Saint-\u00c9tienne, he’s made 71 appearances in all competitions. A back injury sustained a year ago proved to be a costly blow as Arsenal surrended a Premier League to eventual champions Manchester City.<\/p>\n

    “Last year, I had a good season. Unfortunately, I got injured during the year, in the final sprint. It\u2019s clear that I was a little disappointed, but there you go. It\u2019s a new season with new ambitions. I hope we will do better,” he told Telefoot earlier this season. “It\u2019s clear that with me, Arsenal could have been champions. But now, injuries are part of football, and we are focused on this season.”<\/p>\n

    Arsenal would play 11 games without him, winning five (including against Wolves on the final day when the championship had been decided); critically, they squandered back-to-back two-goal leads against Liverpool and West Ham on the road.<\/p>\n

    His central defensive partnership with Gabriel was the cornerstone behind the Gunners’ transformation from contenders to challengers. In that 2022\/23 campaign, they lost just three of the 27 games that Saliba and Gabriel started together, winning 21 of those (78%). That win percentage dropped to 33% when Rob Holding and Gabriel were partners.<\/p>\n

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    Gabriel ? Saliba pic.twitter.com\/OIyK3BNwKT<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 3, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n