France squad: Why I snubbed Liverpools Konate in favour of Arsenals Saliba – Didier Deschamps

France manager, Didier Deschamps, has explained his decision to pick Arsenal’s William Saliba ahead of Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate for his side’s squad to play at this year’s Nations League.

The UEFA Nations League will take place in early June, with France playing Denmark, Croatia and Austria in a triple header.

And Konate has been overlooked by Deschamps in favour of Saliba, who has impressed this season while on loan at Marseille, ahead of the competition.

However, Deschamps has now defended his decision to pick Saliba as the Arsenal loanee has experience playing in a three-at-the-back system compared to Konate.

“Yes, I am following him, he is in a team which is competing in the Champions League final and for the title in England. But since he has been at Liverpool, he has mostly played in a four-man defence. And there is competition [in the France team],” Deschamps said, as quoted by Get Football News France.

“I brought William [Saliba] last time and he always plays in a back three. It is either one or the other, it is very competitive, and that is very good – it allows for the veterans to not get too comfortable.”