At 02:45 Beijing Time (CEST) on September 26, France will play Turkey away in the first round of the UEFA Nations League group stage. Ahead of the match, France midfielder Adrien Rabiot attended a press conference.

Hello Adrian. What changes have taken place in the French team since Zinedine Zidane arrived?

Good evening everyone. First, there have been some changes to the squad, a different working approach, and of course, training sessions are very different, as is the tactical philosophy. So in many ways, we have communicated with the head coach and held some team meetings. But whether working with Didier Deschamps previously or now with Zinedine Zidane, our objective has always been the same: to represent France in top-level competitions and win matches.

Hello Adrian. In the new tactical system, Kylian Mbappé may be positioned on the left wing.What does this new tactical system mean for you? Do you need to provide more defensive cover on the left side, especially when Kylian Mbappé is expected to push far forward to join attacks? Do you need to be more alert when falling back to defend?

This clearly requires specific adjustments based on each player's individual characteristics, but the coach wants us to play a very attacking tactical system. As he explained earlier, he really likes using wing-backs who push very far forward on both flanks, so there will be many attacking-minded players on the pitch. Of course, we need to maintain the balance between attack and defense. We all know Kylian's individual qualities, and if he plays as a left winger, we need to adjust tactically, but without disrupting the team's overall framework. Everyone also needs to contribute to collective team defense.

Hello. Is there a gap between the image you had of Zinedine Zidane beforehand and what you've actually seen from him with the team over the last three or four days?

No, I don't think there is a gap. Since I didn't know him personally beforehand, but from my impression, he has always been quite humble, quiet, doesn't appear much in public, and likes to keep his privacy. And with the French team, that's exactly what's happening; he has shown us this side of himself. So no, I think the image he projects to us is consistent with his public image and with what I knew about him before he became the France coach.

Hello Adrian. What do you think is most important for a match like this, which marks the beginning of this new training camp and era? Is it important to win to get off to a good start? Or is it about implementing all the tactical principles the coaching staff wants to establish, regardless of the result?

I think ultimately, it's about winning the match, because that's the core objective. Of course, I know everyone clearly has high expectations for our tactical performance, because the head coach is new, everyone has high expectations for him and hopes to see substantial changes. So I can imagine the outside world will judge us on all of this. But the main objective, I'm confident, remains winning the match, playing well, and ending tomorrow's match with a positive result.

Hello Adrian. Is the UEFA Nations League, which starts tomorrow, a set objective? Because Zinedine Zidane told us, "I want to evaluate players, I want to evaluate the whole squad." Clearly, everything is in a process of adjustment and clarification, but is this a sporting objective you've discussed? Do you just want to win this competition to launch this new era?

Of course, we want to win every competition we participate in. Of course, when facing significant adjustments like this, things are never simple. I'm confident the head coach has his own ideas, and in these four matches, he will certainly want to evaluate certain players and even try them in different positions, so new things will definitely emerge. It's never easy; everyone needs to adapt and build tactical understanding. But as I said, the main objective is clearly to win, because people will ultimately measure and evaluate us on that, and in any case, this is also an official international competition; we represent France and we have the responsibility to do our best to win.

Hello Adrian. After the break, what does France need to improve to beat Spain? Are you already thinking about the European Championship in two years and revenge against Spain?

I think first and foremost, the Nations League is very important; it can help us build and refine some things. Yes, we all know that the football world changes very quickly, so even though the head coach signed a four-year contract, as he sometimes tells us, depending on results, no one knows if it will be two or four years – that's the reality. So we must take this competition seriously, make the most of it, and achieve the best possible result.

Regarding Spain, clearly, I don't think we lack talent. I'm very confident about this, because, humbly speaking, I don't think our overall strength is inferior to theirs. Perhaps tactically, they performed better than us at that time. They were perhaps better prepared for that match.

That said, among all the teams we've faced in recent years and seasons, it's clear to everyone that Spain is almost the only team that has really troubled us. So if we face them again in future competitions, we need to find a way to beat them, and this will certainly require hard work on tactical details, because I'm confident we have the individual ability and collective talent. The key to solving this problem lies at the tactical level.

First, welcome to Turkey. Before coming here, did you have any prior knowledge of what the away atmosphere is like here? Because players who have played here before experienced red and swollen ears for a week or two afterward. What would you say about that?

No, we are certainly aware of the reputation of the away atmosphere for Turkish club teams and the national team. We are ready for it. We know this is always a difficult match, and we know this is a country that is very proud of its national team and always cheers them on. So we are certainly ready, and we will try to ignore these external disturbances and focus on what we need to do: deliver a good performance, play well, and of course, win the match.

Adrian, good evening. Since the squad announcement last weekend, plus training sessions over the last few days, there's a sense that Zinedine Zidane is even more of a superstar than the French players themselves. What's your take on this phenomenon?

I think that's somewhat true, but we all know his important place in French football history. As a player, that was the case, and now as a coach, he is highly anticipated, and clearly, his large aura puts him at the center of attention; people have high expectations for him, which is normal. I think he himself is trying to remain humble, to shine more of a spotlight on the players, to allow them to showcase themselves as much as possible, and to minimize external discussion about himself. Of course, this is difficult to do, but in some ways, it's also a good thing, because for some players, outsiders may talk more about the coach than about them, and I think that sometimes allows us to enjoy more peace and calm.

First, welcome to Turkey. You have played with Turkey's captain, Merih Demiral, and you have a good relationship. Do you still keep in touch? Have you already discussed this match with him?

I know him well. Clearly, we played together at Juventus. Indeed, after he left, we rarely stayed in touch. A few years ago, we exchanged messages occasionally, but since then, I haven't followed him much. He is a very good center-back, and I like his style; he is very tough and also good at controlling the ball. In any case, if I see him tomorrow, I will certainly be very happy to greet him.

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