Didier Deschamps Pastikan Cedera Punggung William Saliba Tidak Mengkhawatirkan

Pelatih tim nasional Prancis Didier Deschamps menegaskan ketidakkhawatirannya terhadap cedera punggung yang dialami bek tengah William Saliba menjelang laga krusial babak 32 besar Piala Dunia 2026 melawan Swedia di New York.

"William is doing well," ujar Didier Deschamps, Pelatih Timnas Prancis.

Deschamps menjelaskan bahwa penyesuaian porsi latihan dilakukan hanya demi menjaga kebugaran sang pemain bertahan.

"Whether he is not at 100 per cent yes, but if he is at 99 per cent that's fine. It is not something that undermines him or prevents him from playing freely like he has been able to do in the first two matches." kata Didier Deschamps, Pelatih Timnas Prancis.

Deschamps menambahkan bahwa gangguan fisik yang dialami penggawa lini belakang Arsenal tersebut sudah berlangsung cukup lama.

"He has this issue which does not date from today," tambah Didier Deschamps, Pelatih Timnas Prancis.

Arsitek strategi Les Bleus tersebut tetap memuji kualitas performa yang ditunjukkan anak asuhnya di atas lapangan.

"He is a true defender. He is good in the duel, he is quite fast. After that, it is the intelligence, the mastery that he has. He is reassuring for his partners." tutur Didier Deschamps, Pelatih Timnas Prancis.

Gelandang Prancis Adrien Rabiot turut menyoroti kebijakan tim medis dalam mengelola kebugaran Saliba selama turnamen berlangsung.

"He is essential to our team," kata Adrien Rabiot, Pemain Timnas Prancis.

Rabiot mengakui penjadwalan istirahat bagi sang rekan merupakan langkah yang sangat krusial.

"He is forced to manage, to skip training sessions as well to be able to recover. I hope he can keep up the pace with what they have put in place because I know that it is not simple." jelas Adrien Rabiot, Pemain Timnas Prancis.

Di sisi lain, Saliba sendiri mengakui dirinya terpaksa menahan rasa sakit demi membela tim nasional di ajang empat tahunan ini.

“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” kata William Saliba, Pemain Timnas Prancis.

Pemain berusia 25 tahun tersebut menegaskan tidak ingin menjadikan kondisi fisiknya sebagai alasan untuk tampil buruk.

“I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. “The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you've got to grit your teeth. I'm not at 100%, but there are plenty of players who aren't at 100% either. You can't make excuses.” ungkap William Saliba, Pemain Timnas Prancis.

Sebelum absen dalam laga melawan Norwegia yang berakhir dengan kemenangan Prancis 4-1, Saliba mengonfirmasi penanganan medis yang dijalaninya.

“I have had small discomfort for several months. I clenched my teeth for the Premier League and the Champions League,” sebut William Saliba, Pemain Timnas Prancis.

Meskipun tidak berada dalam kondisi kebugaran penuh, manajemen tim medis dipastikan berjalan dengan optimal.

“The staff manages me very well, the coach too. You have to grit your teeth for a World Cup, it’s every four years. I can’t say what it prevents me from doing, some would read what I say. “I’m not 100% but that’s the case with a lot of players.

We must grit your teeth, not look for excuses. The staff is managing well, I hope it will continue.” pungkas William Saliba, Pemain Timnas Prancis.