Louis Saha Exclusive: Palace star is a 'good fit' for Man Utd

We’re expecting Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid to be officially announced any day now. How important is it for Mbappe and France that the saga is over before Euro 2024 begins?

It’s better but I don’t think it’s an important element for a player like this. I think, over the saga for the last three years, he has always been in the middle of a crisis kind of, with talk about his new club or new contract, he has been in that situation and I think he has coped very well. Many people will say he didn’t have a great season but he scored 44 goals and has basically been the top player in Ligue 1. He doesn’t get fazed, it’s just an element. 

Of course, it’s better, I think they both decided to announce it after the Champions League final. So he knew way before that, that this was his destination. So nothing’s going to change for the player, I don’t think.

Do you think Real Madrid can provide the platform for Kylian Mbappe to prove any remaining doubters wrong and stake his claim as the best in the world?

I think that will be a challenge. We’ve seen that Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo were able to build a trio that destroyed a lot of teams. It happened at Barcelona with Neymar, (Lionel) Messi and Luis Saurez. So things like this, if they manage to understand how they can all score and how they can provide the result that the club is looking for, they can all benefit from it.

And then it might be easier to judge between Vinicius and Kylian. But I think that Kylian has a different profile, he can provide goals in different ways. We’ve seen, especially in the first half (of the Champions League final) Real Madrid didn’t have an impact up front. As (Jude) Bellingham has mentioned, he has something else to offer. So it could be the right platform, where he could fit.

The only worry that I have with those three players up front, is they cannot defend as well as maybe the manager would like. That’s what I’ve heard, I can see it really clearly as well. Kylian will have to adapt, but in some way if you now have Jude Bellingham or another midfield providing that kind of security behind, it could be okay.

Didier Deschamps has named his final France squad for Euro 2024. Outside of the usual names, is there any particular player you’re excited to watch for France this summer?

No, I’m very pleased to see N’Golo Kante back. I’m really excited for Marcus Thuram, he’s done really well with Inter. But the player I want to see really express himself is Kylian Mbappe. They’re the players, you may find it boring, but that’s who I’ll say. 

I’m not sure I’ve seen the final squad, but with (Bradley) Barcola, I think he’s an exciting player but I think he’s still a bit young. And there is (Warren) Zaire-Emery, who has done tremendously well to adapt to the level of Paris Saint-Germain’s standard. So those are the players that I’m very excited to see during the summer. Definitely N’Golo, it’s a pleasure to see him back. I definitely think he will have a role to play, he’s not there to sit on the bench so I’m excited to see what Deschamps is going to do.

Kylian Mbappe is the favourite to win the Golden Boot at Euro 2024. But which players across the tournament do you think will push him most in the fight to score the most goals?

Oh yeah, Harry Kane. That’s an easy one. I’m sure that Cristiano Ronaldo, we see his motivation, he will want to be out there to win one last trophy with Portugal. So I’m excited. If he can manage to do that, it will be amazing to have that kind of last competition with those kinds of players. 

We are all sad that (Erling) Haaland can’t be there. (Robert) Lewandowski maybe still has to prove himself, because he hasn’t had the best time at international tournaments most of the time he finished without scoring. So it will be nice for all the fans to see those names putting in a lot of goals. It will make it an exciting tournament.

Olivier Giroud has been a reliable player for Didier Deschamps over the years despite getting criticism from fans. What kind of role do you see him playing at Euro 2024?

He’s a big figure, as you said, the right word is ‘reliable’. He’s going to score goals, he’s going to help his teammates score goals because he knows how to run, how to press, how to use his charisma. He’s a terrific player, I’m very happy with his career and wherever he was, I was always defending Olivier’s quality. He always played after the big names, like Didier Drogba at Chelsea, Thierry Henry at Arsenal, so he maybe had extra pressure but he always delivered. And that’s what he did in Milan, with big players like (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic.

So those are elements that he’s going to provide for France too. I’m sure Kylian loves to play with Olivier when he’s on top form, there is a good partnership there, that’s why those two have scored a lot of goals for France. He’s a big figure, he’s the most-experienced player with his quality. He’s definitely a very smart player, and a good guy as well. He’s provided the values that have spanned a lot of tournaments for France. He’s a very, very important player and I’m wishing him a farewell victory.

France have been placed in a relatively tough group with the Netherlands, Austria and Poland. Do you think they’ll face any problems against these three teams or should they still top the group as expected?

I expect them to top the group, they are the favourites. But when you see those three teams you have to have the respect. Poland have played really well, they’re very strong defensively and Austria like to score goals and have even beat big teams. So there is definitely potential to face difficulties against them.

And the Netherlands, obviously, there is no surprise they’re going to be a big challenge even if we’ve had some success over the years against them. The Euros is a big competition and anything can happen. The first game is always one of the most important.

When building up to a major tournament, how important is it that you win your warm up matches? Or is it better that the players just gel on the pitch?

It’s always good. Obviously it’s always good to build your confidence as quickly as possible. Those guys have had a really long season, they have a bit of rest for maybe a few days, then they need to restart and build up the fitness level to prepare for long competitions if they want to go all the way. 

So, I remember, it comes to a little fitness preparation so sometimes you don’t get the result you want, but you build up the confidence. As you said, you start to gel, get the automatisms. So those things are more important because if you want to go all the way, friendly games are not as important. And even the first few games are not as important. I remember a competition where we maybe didn’t play really well in the first few games but then you pick up and you readjust with all the mistakes. And you get there because you have the best players, and eventually things get sorted out. 

Your former Man Utd teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy is being linked to becoming the new Leicester manager. How do you think he’d fare as a manager in the Premier League?

I haven’t watched his body language, I haven’t watched his game, to be honest. But I know, based on his personality and what I’ve heard, he’s someone who’s always been obsessed with the game and understands a lot of parameters that some people may not see. So I won’t be surprised to see him have success in the league with almost any team. Because of the kind of background that he’s had, wherever he’s been playing, I think like many Dutch (players and managers), he can communicate and provide really stylish play. So I won’t be surprised.

Casemiro is being linked with a move away from Manchester United this summer, to Saudi Arabia. Would this be the right move for both Casemiro and Man Utd?

It all depends on Casemiro and what they see. If the club think that Casemiro has had his time, I think it will obviously be the time for him to find a move, wherever it is. But I still see the potential that Casemiro can bring something. Maybe he hasn’t had the best season, because the setup of the team wasn’t right for me. He was exposed at times, being asked to chase back when you have two number eights bombarding forward and he thought that he had the role to maybe create more.

The setup was sometimes a bit strange and that’s why I felt Casemiro was in, let’s say, a trap. I feel like everybody jumped on him because yes, some of those games he didn’t play well, and some of those games he played at centre back. That’s not his position. Everyone has highlighted his legs, like a similar kind of treatment that Cristiano Ronaldo had. And it seems to be a setup where it’s easy to target those players because there are so many impressions, so a lot of the media will talk about it.

And that’s why they target the most famous ones, or the one who’s got five Champions Leagues. Yes, he didn’t have a great season, but it’s not because of Casemiro, it’s because of the team. Maybe the balance of the characters in the team isn’t right, and he had to do too much or tried to do too much and got caught. Because he’s not someone who should be running 12k and creating as much as maybe Bruno Fernandes does, who’s obviously got his young legs.

Raphael Varane leaves Manchester United this summer after three years. What have you made of his time at the club, especially compared to his 10 years with Real Madrid?

He’s done really well. I’m sure I’m a bit biased because he’s French and someone that I’ve really liked and have followed his whole career. It’s really hard to compare what he achieved with a winning team like Real Madrid, and coming to Manchester United when they are clearly in transition, and he’s trying to do his best.

He had a great last game, lifting the FA Cup, he won the League Cup last year. Every time he played, especially with (Lisandro) Martinez, he proved that he’s a top player. So I’m a bit sad to see him go, but I feel like when you have a wrong setup, it doesn’t provide the platform for those guys to express their talent as much as we think.

We have a debate with why (Jadon) Sancho is not expressing himself as he should be, why (Marcus) Rashford isn’t. I do think there is something that needs to be addressed. And that's not just by targeting the players. Yes, they have a huge responsibility, but they are not alone. So we are asking INEOS to sort it out and that’s what we need to see very quickly.

What have you made about the reports that INEOS’s transfer strategy at Man Utd will be to only sign new players under the age of 25?

I think it’s a bit dangerous to be honest. I think in some way it will replicate some of the mistakes that Chelsea made last summer. Yes it’s good, but it’s a hell of a task for any manager. So I do think it could be a dangerous strategy, because you’re trying to build a squad in terms of fitness, to have the legs and the excitement, I totally understand that. But to have a rigid one, where it’s only under 25s, when you have a player who’s an absolute monster and he’s 26, and you’re not going to sign him? That’s going to be a bit ridiculous.

As a guideline [it works] but it shouldn’t be the case that if you have the possibility of signing Harry Kane, don’t tell me that you won’t sign him. It would be ridiculous. Things like this, you may think this way, but those parameters need to be flexible. And that’s where I think there is a difference between theory and practical. 

One under-25 player to be linked with a move to Manchester United is Michael Olise. What do you think of the Frenchman’s season, performing well for Crystal Palace despite a lot of injuries?

He’s someone I have watched over the years and his progression is quite good and consistent, even with injuries. So imagine the potential. I would love to see how he can step up again next year. He’s a very, very slick player, sometimes a bit nonchalant because he has that confidence, but also the calmness to create. 

I love his rhythm and vision, what he’s been able to go with Crystal Palace is great, with (Jean-Philippe) Mateta up front, they have a connection and I can see that he can create with any player, because he’s a type of player that can impose some kind of tempo and, when he wants to, just accelerate. I think he’s going to be a very exciting prospect, especially if he comes to Man Utd. I will be really buzzing.

How do you think Michael Olise would fit in at Man Utd?

Well, we need legs. We need some creativity, especially at the top, someone who is unpredictable in a way but predictable for his partner. That’s the thing we need, we tend to have one or two players like this. (Alejandro) Garnacho season was very, very impressive, and to have complementary players on both sides, some very exciting players who have the guts to actually create and deliver, but also be reliable to create compactness is very important.

He can also play different roles. So that’s where I’m very excited and obviously having experience around him, I think some players now at Man Utd are capable of doing this. So it would be nice that he would grow in the right way, but I think he’s a good fit.

Jarrad Branthwaite has also been linked with Man Utd since we last spoke about him. You said it was important for him to pick the right club - would United be the right club for him? 

I think, when you look at the defence, especially now Varane is going, you can see the possibility. I know that he’s a left-footer and Martinez has played on that side as well sometimes. So it depends on what the plan is. 

But he’s a top defender. We will see at the Euros if he has a chance to play, but he’s a big prospect. And I’m sure he can still improve, and I’m sure that he can improve a team. Because I think he can score goals, he can really provide that calmness at the back and the way he defends. And I think that’s the proof that he can fit really well at Man Utd.

It’s now been a week since the FA Cup final, and we’re still in the dark about the future of Erik ten Hag. Does this make you think that Man Utd are more likely to keep him?

I think they’re still thinking about it, otherwise they will have made a very clear statement to say ‘no, we haven’t thought about it’, because is it good to leave a manager in the unknown I’m not sure. There are transfer strategies ongoing, I’m sure the players will want to know who is going to be there next year. 

So it definitely would be good to have a statement from the board to make it very clear that he’s in charge, or he’s going to be in charge and things are going to be this way. They have announced a lot of chances on the board, they have to explain to us what’s going to happen with the manager, because the field is very important. 

A lack of goals were Everton's biggest problems on the pitch last season. Is there a striker you think they should go for in the summer to try to fix their issues? Or is Dominic Calvert-Lewin capable of being the one to lead the line?

There are a few who can help, definitely. I think Dominic has had a difficult season but when he’s on form, he’s sweet. I’m sure that he can be reliable again. They definitely need to have more goals from all over the pitch. Last season, a defensive midfielder was almost the top scorer of the squad, that’s not normal. So those things are elements that put pressure on the team, because you really need someone that threatens enough and converts enough to not put you in that kind of situation, fighting against relegation.

So I think that there are maybe a few options that can be good, but I don’t have any names in particular in my head based on what Everton provide. You need a quality striker, but those strikers may think about going to maybe Liverpool or Arsenal, or teams like that. I’m not sure Ivan Toney is going to go to Everton if he has links to Tottenham or Arsenal, if you see what I’m saying.