France and Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala feels Didier Deschamps is the right person to guide the nation for the 2016 European Championship on home soil.
The 47-year-old was Les Bleus captain when they won the 1998 World Cup in France, beating favourites Brazil 3-0 in the final.
And Mangala thinks Deschamps’ experience of winning a major international honour at home makes him the ideal candidate to prepare the nation for the upcoming European Championship.
“He had a fantastic career and knows all about success”, he told UEFA’s official site.
“He was captain of the World Cup-winning side in 1998, so he knows what it's like to be part of a group. And that was in France, so it's similar to what's coming up at the Euro.
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“That's a benefit because you can say whatever you want but if you haven't experienced it, it isn't the same.
“He's already been through it and when the time comes he'll have the right words for us. He will know how to do things so that we're in the best possible condition.”
Mangala, who is relishing the prospect of playing in front of the home fans in the European Championship, however, was quick to add that the supporters will be very demanding.
“French supporters will look to recreate what they did at the 2014 World Cup. They were in Brazil in force and we could feel their support. During every match, we really knew they were there,” he added.
“They'll be even hungrier; now they want even more. They'll be more demanding, but the good thing is that when we go out on to the pitch, the other team will know the crowd is behind us, an added motivation.
“You don't play in the Euros on home soil every day. And it's the same for the fans.”
Mangala signed Manchester City from Porto last summer and has thus far made 43 appearances in all competitions for the Citizens.
The 24-year-old, who was part of France’s World Cup squad in 2014, has thus far earned six caps for the nation, but is yet to score on the international stage.
