France centre-half, William Saliba, has revealed he has been “gritting his teeth” through a back issue that has troubled him for several months, admitting he is not fully fit as he continues his campaign at the FIFA World Cup with France national football team.
The defender, who played a pivotal role in Arsenal ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title last season, said he is currently not operating at peak condition in North America as he pushes to help France secure a third world crown.
“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months. I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well,” Saliba said at a press conference ahead of his country’s upcoming Group I match against Iraq.
“The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.”
“I’m not at 100 per cent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either – you can’t make excuses,” he added.
Saliba has been on a tailored training programme since linking up with the France squad for the tournament, yet still delivered a solid performance in their opening group-stage victory over Senegal.
Les Bleus will face Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday, where a win would guarantee their place in the knockout rounds, before wrapping up their group campaign against Norway four days later.
