Kylian Mbappe Discusses Leadership, Injury, and Team Strength After Morocco Win

New York. France captain Kylian Mbappe was once again declared 'Player of the Match' after the win against Morocco. The question everyone expected to be asked in the post-match press conference came – which team do you want to play against in the semi-final, Belgium or Spain?

Mbappe answered casually, 'It doesn't make any difference to me. If Belgium comes, we will play Belgium, if Spain comes, we will play Spain. We will see what happens. This is the semi-final, so whichever team comes, the game will be difficult.'

• Mbappe Accepts Leadership Role in French Team

When asked if he feels he has stepped into a bigger leadership role in the national team than before, Mbappe said that he has accepted that responsibility, especially off the field.

He said, 'Certainly, I feel very comfortable in the French team. This is a team that I love very much. Many players here are my friends for years. And there are some young players who now look at me as one of the experienced players in the team.'

He added, 'I have to be an example for the team, especially emotionally. What happens on the field is related to football, but I have more experience in the mental and emotional aspects. No one else in this team has played more World Cups than me. I know what it's like to play in the World Cup and it is my responsibility to share that experience with my teammates.'

• Mbappe Not Worried About Foot Injury

Regarding leaving the field after sustaining a foot injury in the final moments of the game, Mbappe said there was no need to worry. He said, 'I am fine. I had a minor injury to my foot, but everything is fine now. Mateta was in a better condition than me to play the last 15 minutes.'

He added, 'We know the only way to rest is to win. We have reached the semi-finals now and are very happy about it. But the journey is still long. We know that the upcoming challenges will be even more difficult than the games we have faced so far. But we are ready to face whatever challenges come.'

• Feeling of Sending Hakimi Out of the Competition

When asked how he felt about sending his close friend Achraf Hakimi and Morocco out of the World Cup, Mbappe gave an emotional response.

He said, 'It will actually be difficult when I meet him again in the dressing room. There we will be friends and normal people again. On the field, there are no emotions. We came to win, they also came to win.'

He added, 'When I see him again in the dressing room, it will surely make me emotional because he is a very close friend of mine. But on the field, there are no emotions.'

• Is This Team Stronger Than the 2018 World Cup Winning Team?

Mbappe was also asked if the current French team is the strongest team he has played in and if it is better than the 2018 World Cup winning team.

He rejected that claim, saying, 'No, it's not like that. I have already been a World Champion and a World Cup runner-up. But this team has not yet become World Champion or runner-up.'

He concluded, 'This team has the most potential. This is the easiest team to imagine for the future. It has many quality players and it has given hope to the fans. But the strongest team is the team that wins the title. Right now, I don't have any golden trophy.'