Didier Deschamps has pleaded with Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier to rest Kylian Mbappe in the run up to the start of the Qatar World Cup.
With the tournament set to kick of on November 20, clubs across Europe are preparing for a cram of fixtures, with PSG embarking on a punishing schedule that will see them play 11 matches in just six weeks.
While they look to fulfil their domestic commitments, the Parisians will also play four Champions League games before the World Cup, two of which include tough away legs to Juventus and Benfica.
The Ligue 1 side will also square off against fellow title contenders Marseille later this October, in a match which could have big ramifications on the race for the league title, which Mbappe is very likely to play a part in should he be available for selection.
But the France boss is concerned about how much game time the 23-year-old could receive over the next two months, with Deschamps hoping Mbappe will be fresh and ready to defend their World Cup title later this year.
'I know he (Galtier) still wants to play Kylian,' Deschamps said following France's Nations League defeat by Denmark on Sunday night.
'But from time to time, to be able to breathe a little bit, to have a few good minutes less, it won't fail him, quite the contrary.'
Mbappe has already featured in all but two of PSG's games this season, scoring 10 times across nine starts for the Parisians, while racking up more than 750 minutes on the field.
But the pressure is mounting on Deschamps ahead of the World Cup, as the French national side's underwhelming form in the Nations League has left them sitting third in their group, winning just one of their six matches during the tournament.
Having played in all but one of those games, Mbappe has scored twice in this year's competition, but failed to help the World Cup champions secure a win against Denmark yesterday evening, with Les Bleus succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.
After the game, the 23-year-old was heavily criticised by L'Equipe for his performance, with the French news outlet giving him a 4/10 rating, saying he missed 'too many opportunities.'
While it's unclear whether Galtier will heed the pleads of his compatriot and give Mbappe less game time, Deschamps is still blessed with a frightening level of squad depth, with the French manager able to call on any of Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman and Christopher Nkuku to make an impact for his side.
But if his talisman Mbappe is not firing on all cylinders, France could struggle in Qatar, after the winger had a huge influence on the side's success at the 2018 World Cup.
Mbappe announced himself to the world that year, scoring four times during the tournament while also becoming the youngest player to score in the final of the World Cup since Pele.