The ongoing international break is special for Aurelien Tchouameni who is set to receive a significant upgrade in terms of importance with the French national team with key players absent.
Kylian Mbappe’s in-availability means Les Bleus will be without their first captain, and Didier Deschamps has chosen Tchouameni for that role. The Frenchman will thus make his debut as the captain of his national team later this week.
Tchouameni speaks on Real Madrid’s situation
Speaking in an interview (h/t MARCA), the Real Madrid midfielder was asked about how he felt playing regularly out of position as a centre-back despite being a defensive midfielder by trade.
Expressing his priority, the player made it clear that he was open to playing anywhere the manager required him to.
“Obviously, I prefer to be in the middle, but I always try to give my best,” he said.
With Eder Militao now facing another minor setback and the likes of David Alaba and Dani Carvajal unavailable after the hiatus, the midfielder may thus see increased action as a defender for Real Madrid.
A part of the same interview, he refused to concede that he faced pressure defending the Real Madrid crest as many players have insisted in the past.
“No, it’s not the case, at least not for me.”
The Spanish outlet also furthers that the Real Madrid star confirmed Mbappe’s absence for France to be down to physical problems and not any internal tensions that were going around during the last international break.
So far this season, the 24-year-old has made eight starts for Real Madrid in La Liga, averaging over ten defensive actions per game and completing 93% of his passes.