Still as strong”, N’Golo Kanté regains his starting status with the Blues

The midfielder, who has been playing in Saudi Arabia for a year, was recalled by Didier Deschamps, who usually relies more on players playing in Europe.

N’Golo Kanté? “There is one who runs, and the other who plays football”, summarizes Jonathan Clauss. “I have the impression that three of them came to Clairefontaine”adds Marcus Thuram. “He gives the impression that there are two more of us when we play on his team”, says Benjamin Pavard. The midfielder, back in the French team after two years of absence, is already making a strong impression on his teammates, and will be expected against Austria on Monday, June 17, for the Blues’ entry into contention in the Euro.

During the week, in response to a question on the positioning of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé perhaps awkwardly revealed the upcoming tenure of N’Golo Kanté. “Antoine makes a lot of effort to come and help us, I also have N’Golo Kanté who will help me”blurted out the Parisian winger.

This clue on the composition of the midfielder of the France team confirmed those left by Didier Deschamps, during the preparation matches for the Euro, during which the coach started the player from Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) . He was also part of the typical team during the last training match, on the eve of the match against the Austrians.

“He had a very complete season, with more than forty matches certainly not in Europe, but he has regained all his physical abilities. Through his experience and his experiences, I am convinced that the France team will be stronger with him”, justified Deschamps after announcing the presence of the man he nicknamed “NG” in the list in May. Only the coach knows if, at the time, he already imagined him starting in the midfield of the Blues for the Euro. He knew, in any case, that he could count on a player who would not shy away if he were to start on the bench.

It must be said that the midfielder has put a long period of injuries behind him. Forfeited for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to a hamstring problem, N’Golo Kanté only played nine games with Chelsea during the 2022-2023 season, before heading to Saudi Saudi.

Thanks to his experience, his performances in training and the injury to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is gradually returning, the small 33-year-old midfielder should start the competition in the starting lineup. A starting place found as if nothing had changed in two years. “He’s the best in training, he hasn’t lost any of his football, I still find him as strong”estimates Benjamin Pavard, world champion alongside him in 2018. “We can’t play in training anymore. As soon as we have him in our team, we know we have won”adds Marcus Thuram, while Randal Kolo Muani says he was “a little shocked” by the number of balls recovered by the former Chelsea player.

“I have good feelings and I feel capable of playing my part in this Euro with the teamsimply replies the person concerned, who does not think he has lost his athletic abilities with age. In Saudi Arabia, you had to adapt to the heat and hydration. Being back in a more temperate climate, with less heat and more rain, I think it will make things easier for me and I don’t have to do much to adapt.“In Saudi Arabia, he also learned to share his experience with younger local players, which he will also have to do with some of the Blues, like Warren Zaire-Emery in midfield.

If he stayed “almost the same player” for two years, in his own words, N’Golo Kanté has not lost his competitive spirit. “You play cards or console with him, the guy is ready to do anything to win, underlines, on his subject, Kylian Mbappé in the columns of West France [article payant]. It’s surprising because you give him the good Lord without confession. But when you think about it, it’s the mark of great champions.”. World champion, winner of the Champions League, can the insatiable become European champion with the Blues?