Schneiderlin fearful of losing Euro 2016 place to Kante
Morgan Schneiderlin has admitted he fears for his place in France's European Championship squad after an inconsistent first season with Manchester United.
France will host this summer's tournament and Schneiderlin looked certain for inclusion on home soil after being a key man in coach Didier Deschamps' midfield throughout the build-up.
But he lost his place in the last squad, for March's friendlies against Holland and Russia, to Leicester's emerging star N'Golo Kante and admitted on Tuesday, two days before Deschamps announces his squad, that his chances have diminished.
"It would be a lie to say that I am 100 per cent optimistic," he told L'Equipe. "My chances are a bit less.
"But it would also be a lie to say that I don't believe. For two years, I have practically made every squad. It has been a dream. It is always at the back of my mind.
"I am going to await the announcement with impatience, and see what happens without any regrets because it will be the coach's decision."
Reflecting on his form since leaving Southampton to move to Old Trafford last summer, the 26-year-old gave a similarly mixed outlook
"It has been like the team as a whole - some good matches and some less good ones," he said.
"Everything is different at Manchester United. A good match at Southampton is perhaps seen as bad at Manchester.
"When I signed at Manchester, I wanted to play all the matches, be involved all the time, so I am not totally satisfied. I am not dissatisfied, I am not happy - I am in the middle.
"But this is my first year, I am convinced that I will return very, very strong next season."
While Schneiderlin anxiously awaits his fate, there was a more placid response from full-back Mathieu Debuchy.
The 30-year-old, on loan at Bordeaux after falling out of favour at Arsenal, is hoping for the call as Bacary Sagna's back-up at right-back but Lyon's Christophe Jallet could be preferred.
"I will wait calmly for the coach's choice, we will see," Debuchy told L'Equipe.
"If I am there, I will be very proud and happy. If I am not, I will go on holiday with my family."