Recovered from his injuries, the 27-year-old world champion wants to be confident before the start of the France team rally on Monday.
«I am very well. Health is the most important.It was a smiling Presnel Kimpembe who appeared in front of the cameras ofAmazon Prime Video sunday. It must be said that “his” PSG had just crushed Auxerre (5-0), on behalf of the 15th day of Ligue 1.
This match also marked the return to play of the 27-year-old titi. Just in time, before meeting the rest of the France group on Monday, in Clairefontaine, for the World Cup (November 20-December 18). “I was lucky to have playing time, it feels good, a great victory and the way and more. Nothing to say, the weather is nice, there are people, a good match, we enjoy, that’s the most important“Rejoiced again Kimpembe, entered in the 75th, in place of Sergio Ramos, the latter having also not been retained with the Spanish team.
85 minutes since mid-September
All without apprehension. This is what the Parisian defender said. “I’m very well, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do a few minutes on the pitch. I prepared well“, he assures, he who had only been able to play 70 minutes in two matches since… mid-September, with injuries to the ischio then to the Achilles tendon.
Read alsoThe notes of PSG-Auxerre: Show in front with Mendes and Hakimi, Ekitike at the party
Enough so that we could ask ourselves questions about the summoning of the world champion in the group of Didier Deschamps. Not Kimpembe. “No, I’m someone who thinks day by day, I don’t like regrets, I gave my all to come back to this team. It’s done. I am very happy“, he exults, he who assures, when asked if he has 90 minutes in his legs, that”it’s not a problem, it’s all in the head“. A little in the legs too, anyway. And in terms of rhythm, there is work, a delay to fill. Knowing that the Mancunian Raphaël Varane is more or less in the same case, the coach has also shielded the defensive sector. No less than nine defenders in his list of 25!
“DD” however expressed his confidence, ensuring that Kimpembe, Varane but also Karim Benzema will be able to start against Australia, the first match of the Blues, on November 22. Have.
I had difficult moments with these injuries but if I played it was because everything was fine.
Presnel Kimpembe
In any case, “Presko” only had one complete collective session in the legs before playing this quarter of an hour against AJA on Sunday. “He did 100% of the session yesterday (Saturday), the day before (Friday), 80explains the Parisian coach, Christophe Galtier. He did not have the three days of rest after Lorient (2-1 win, editor’s note), he worked a lot individually. Members of the staff of the France team came, in order to exchange, observe, evaluate. As of Thursday, he did part of the session. I had in mind that he could participate, not start because he had not played for a long time. But it was a priority that he could find sensations on the ground.»
Read alsoWorld Cup: the return of the pragmatic Deschamps to win France
As confident and positive as he is, Presnel Kimpembe nevertheless admitted that he went through “hard times with these injuries. But if I played, it’s because everything was fine. Serene? Very serene!“. And the native of Beaumont-sur-Oise added: “We are happy, we have been thinking about this World Cup for a long time. Even if we have goals with our clubs, obligations, she was necessarily in the back of our minds. Now the first part of the championship is over, we can focus on the World Cup».
Blues without certainty in Qatar?
A World Cup that France approaches with a number of question marks. Between the injuries of recent weeks, the major midfield withdrawals (Pogba and Kanté) and the poor performance of recent months, there is indeed reason to ask questions about the real potential of this French team in the Qatar…”Worried ? No. There is quality within this France team. We are lucky to have an incredible pool of French players. We have what it takes. Afterwards, it is the coach who makes his selection but there is no doubt about it“says Presnel Kimpembe, with his 28 selections. Top hearts.
