Zinedine Zidane makes his feelings on Jeremy Jacquet crystal clear as France fail to beat Italy
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Jeremy Jacquet has quickly become a star for Liverpool and more than earned his first call-up to the French national team for the September break.Les Bleus are embarking on a new era after 14 years of Didier Deschamps, with the legendary Zinedine Zidane taking over as manager.Zidane could not ignore Jacquet’s excellent start to life with Liverpool, and duly called him up, handing the 21-year-old a debut with a start against Belgium on Monday. Liverpool DP Zidane has been won over by JacquetThough he started against Belgium alongside Maxence Lacroix, Jacquet lined up with regular first-choice centre-back Dayot Upamecano for the Italy match.
With the Bayern defender sent off late in the game, Jacquet will surely go again for France’s final match of the break – a rematch with Belgium on Monday.Even without the mitigating circumstances, though, the Liverpool man would likely have played again anyway. French national media have been singing Jacquet’s praises, and when asked about him during his post-match press conference, Zidane did too.“Very good, very good,” the Real Madrid legend replied.
In short once again he was very good. I’ve said it four times but that’s good.”READ MORE: Another Liverpool player set for early return from international duty after Dominik Szoboszlai concernJacquet is grateful for Zidane’s supportJacquet does not appear to be having any trouble adapting to life as a starter for club and country, and he also met Zidane’s praise with a level head on Friday.After Actu Foot informed him of the manager’s words of encouragement in the bowels of the Stade de France, Jacquet said that he was very happy to have the backing of such an illustrious former player and coach.“I’m really happy, we know the kind of player he was, and we also know the coach he was at Real,” he said.“Naturally, receiving congratulations from him makes me very happy.