William Saliba’s status as a defensive force for Arsenal has earned him widespread acclaim in England. He’s a cornerstone of the Premier League’s best defence and was recently named to its Team of the Year. Yet, back home in France, the perception of Saliba’s abilities couldn’t be more different.
Despite his success at Arsenal, Saliba has yet to win over French national team manager Didier Deschamps. His 13 appearances for France have been underwhelming, and Deschamps’ recent criticism highlights the scepticism Saliba faces. “He is having a good season, but he also does things that I don’t like so much. For France, he has limited game time for France, and when he plays, that hasn’t necessarily gone well,” Deschamps pointed out.
“The hierarchy doesn’t favour him at the moment, but he is here,” Deschamps said during the last international break. “Dayot Upamecano has had game time and perhaps William has had less. With certain players, I make sure to persevere, because it can be confidence or little blockages that can shift. Some don’t have any concerns, some need game time. William has had less game time, so that doesn’t allow him to be very calm,” he added.
This difference in perception isn’t lost on Saliba. Sources close to the defender confirmed he’s aware of the disparity. “It’s explained by the fact that he’s judged by his performances for France, and he is aware that he doesn’t have a standout match with Les Bleus,” one insider explained.
As long as Saliba struggles to make an impact for France, or lacks sufficient playing time to do so, the doubts about his talent are unlikely to subside. He has a mountain to climb to earn the same level of respect in France that he commands at Arsenal.
