France starlet Kylian Mbappe has revealed he was willing to pay a fine given to the French Football Federation that would’ve come as a result of him refusing to do media duties at the World Cup.
Mbappe set the world alight once again as France beat Poland 3-1 to reach the World Cup quarter-final with a scintillating brace that saw him draw level with Lionel Messi for goals scored at the tournament (9).
The 23-year-old continues to break new ground and is inspiring Les Bleus as they charge through the World Cup in hope of becoming the first nation ever to retain the trophy, and is willing to go to extreme lengths to not be distracted by outside noise.
Speaking after his sparkling performance, Mbappe explained his absence from media duties: “I know there were a lot of questions about why I wasn’t speaking (to the press). Already, for all the journalists who are there, it was nothing personal against the journalists, nothing against the people.
“It was just that I always have this need to concentrate on my competition and when I want to concentrate on something, I need to do it at 100% and not lose energy to something else. That’s why I didn’t want to present myself (to the media).”
He added: “I learned recently that the (French Football) Federation was going to have to pay a fine (for him not wanting to do media). I offered to pay it personally, the Federation must not pay a decision which is personal.”
Mbappe is already a World Cup winner, having scored in the final against Croatia in 2018, but has made no secrets about his desire to thrive on the world stage once again: “Of course this World Cup is an obsession, it’s the competition of my dreams, I have the chance to play it, I built my season on this competition physically and mentally.
“I wanted to arrive ready and for the moment it is going well, but we are still far from (the) objective that we have set and that I have set myself, which is to win.”
Didier Deschamps’ side will meet England in the last eight on 10 December.
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