Zinedine Zidane initiated his tenure as head coach of the French national team without grandiose speeches, sending subtle yet clear signals regarding the new era he intends to build following Didier Deschamps’ 14-year reign.
Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul was the first to arrive at Clairefontaine, followed by Guillaume Restes, Michael Olise, and Rayan Cherki, while Maghnes Akliouche and Jean Butez joined later as late replacements.
Zidane held a brief meeting with the squad, appearing relaxed and smiling while foregoing a lengthy address. Prior to training, he presented a slide show detailing the background, expertise, and specific responsibilities of each member of his technical staff.
Reflecting on the atmosphere, Maxence Lacroix remarked: “We have two weeks to get to know each other and discover working methods. It is a new era, and we need to build a strong bond quickly.”
The squad relocated to the “Michel Platini” pitch—a facility rarely utilized during the Deschamps era—where Zidane personally joined David Bettoni, Hamidou Msaidie, and Fabien Barthez in setting up cones and prepping drills.
The pitch session was restricted to 12 players who either did not feature or played minimal minutes for their clubs over the weekend, while Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and other heavily used players remained indoors for recovery work.
Zidane observed the initial stages of training before stepping in to demonstrate movements and deliver passes during finishing drills, repeatedly urging his players to prioritize “quality.” He also conducted individual discussions with Lepaul, Manu Koné, and Olise.
Bettoni directed tactical instructions while Grégory Dupont overseen physical conditioning, and Barthez began working with newly called-up goalkeepers Restes and Butez. Following training, the team returned to quarters for dinner and traditional initiation songs for newcomers.
Zidane’s first competitive test arrives against Turkey on September 25 in the UEFA Nations League, followed by a home fixture against Italy on October 2.
