Kylian Mbappé admits past mistakes as France captain

France captain Kylian Mbappe has accepted that he made mistakes as Les Bleus skipper. The Frenchman will lead his country in Split in the first leg of a Nations League quarterfinal on Thursday, with the return leg on Sunday at Stade de France.

Mbappe will lead France against Croatia after a six-month absence but admitted he could have handled things in a better way. France suffered a 1-3 loss against Italy in September and Mbappe took the onus on his shoulders.

“I am lucid enough to know what I do well and what I don’t do well. I know people were not happy with what I was doing on and off the field, and I wasn’t doing them well,” Mbappé said at a pre-match news conference. “I have no problem questioning myself. I have never had any problem with criticism when it is deserved and well-argued.”

The Real Madrid forward admitted the criticism which he received was valid at that time.

“I didn’t play well against Italy and my [pre-match] news conference didn’t please people, because as captain I didn’t bring people together,” Mbappé said. “I accept that, but now the most important thing is to move forward and not to repeat the same mistakes.”

Mbappe is looking forward to teaming up with Dembele, who has been in good form as he has scored 30 goals for PSG.

“He’s another string to our bow,” Mbappé said of Dembélé, who is also a close friend. “When you see his current form it gives us even more options, it makes us even more unpredictable for the opponent.”

“We just need to combine properly,” Mbappé said. “But we know each other off by heart and we want to play together.”

The striker has scored 31 goals this season in 44 matches for Los Blancos and said he is feeling confident.

“I am feeling good, I feel happy to play football,” Mbappé said. “I am happy to be here to help the [France] team.”

France will face Croatia on Thursday at Poljud.