Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
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. On Friday, Jacquet played again, this time in a big clash with Italy. And having seen him look as comfortable as ever, Zidane hailed the young defender after the game.
Liverpool DP
Liverpool DP
Zidane has been won over by Jacquet
Though 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. “Brave. Not afraid to come way out [with the ball]. Very good in the duel. In short once again he was very good. I’ve said it four times but that’s good.”
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Jacquet is grateful for Zidane’s support
Jacquet 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. As for my relationship with him, it’s excellent; he speaks to me whenever he wants or feels like giving me instructions, so everything is going well.”
It has indeed been a dream start to the campaign for Jacquet after making such a big step up over the summer. The next challenge will be to build on this, immediately with France in Monday’s match, and back at Liverpool where expectations of him are growing by the game.
Photo by Claudio Villa - FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images
Photo by Claudio Villa - FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images
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Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
Liverpool four-grid