France coach Didier Deschamps has eased concerns over William Saliba’s fitness, insisting the defender is in good condition despite reports suggesting a back injury could threaten his World Cup participation.

Saliba linked up with the France squad at their pre-tournament training camp near Paris on Tuesday, just days after featuring for Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

While France are set to take on Ivory Coast in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes on Thursday, Deschamps indicated that Saliba’s minutes may be managed as a precaution.

“William is fine and will be managed. If he had needed to play tomorrow, he would have played,” Deschamps told reporters.

The France boss, who is due to leave his role after the World Cup, also confirmed he plans to rotate his squad during the upcoming friendlies. Les Bleus will face Northern Ireland in Lille next Monday as part of their preparations for the tournament.

Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue are among five PSG players whose workloads will be closely monitored following the club’s Champions League triumph in Budapest last weekend.

Didier Deschamps confirmed that France’s Champions League finalists will have their playing time carefully managed as the team prepares for the World Cup.

“I will manage the six players involved in the Champions League, especially those who started the match, considering what lies ahead,” the France coach said.

Deschamps also offered a positive assessment of captain Kylian Mbappe, stating that the forward is in excellent condition both physically and mentally despite a challenging campaign with Real Madrid.

Although Mbappe has maintained an impressive scoring record, the 27-year-old has yet to secure a major trophy during his two seasons with the Spanish club. His commitment came under scrutiny after he took a holiday while recovering from a hamstring injury near the end of the season.

Deschamps dismissed any concerns, stressing that club matters would not affect Mbappe’s role with the national team.

“What happened at club level stays at club level. Here, it’s the national team. With the group and those who were there for the first sessions, he has put in the effort,” he said.

The France boss also highlighted Mbappe’s experience on the international stage as Les Bleus prepare for another World Cup campaign.

“He has experience that others don’t. It will be his third World Cup. He knows how difficult a World Cup is,” Deschamps added.