Dupraz demands more time for Zidane after the win in Turkey

Consultant Pascal Dupraz said, this Saturday on Les Grandes Gueules du Sport on RMC, that Zinédine Zidane must be given more time after delivering a 1-0 victory to the Blues in Turkey, the first official match of his tenure.

Debut Victory and Historical Context

On Friday evening, the Blues returned from Istanbul with a 1-0 win, making Zidane the first manager to win his first match since Aimé Jacquet, who had beaten Italy 1-0 in 1994. This performance was described by the consultant as a “first successful one, at least on paper.”

To mark the break with Didier Deschamps, Zidane chose a 4-3-3, shifting Kylian Mbappé to the left flank and bringing Rayan Cherki in as an offensive outlet. The setup was described as intentional but still sluggish in the attacking build‑up.

The Blues eventually found the solution thanks to a goal from their captain, who had to leave the pitch shortly afterwards due to an injury. That goal gave the new management its first success.

Zinédine Zidane congratulates the Blues after their first win in Turkey

Dupraz Calls for More Time

“The great difficulty, and that’s why Zidane is the right man, is to follow Deschamps and his long period of success, whatever people say. What do we expect from a manager? That he wins. That’s already achieved for Zidane in his first match,” Pascal Dupraz asserted.

In the September 26 broadcast, Dupraz added: “We felt that his players wanted to apply his playing principles. They wanted to aim high. The attacking build‑up was sluggish, but the pitch was disastrous. I’m not going to criticize Zidane on the game, but the French team is a high‑level side. Zidane met my expectations.”

The Blues continue their four‑match international series and will travel to Belgium on Monday at 20:45. This match will be played without Kylian Mbappé, who is sidelined for the rest of the camp and is expected in Madrid for treatment.

Dembélé congratulates the Blues on a hard‑fought win in Turkey

The programme, broadcast on RMC in the show Les Grandes Gueules du Sport, lasted 40 minutes and 24 seconds, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., providing listeners with a detailed analysis of Zidane’s first match.