N’Golo Kanté’s last time with the French team dates back to June 2022. Since then, the former Chelsea player has experienced many adventures. This summer, the tireless midfielder left southwest London after yet another season truncated by injuries (9 matches in all competitions, 685 minutes of play). If during his return with the Blues at the end of the 2022-2023 campaign, Kanté displayed a very good level, the latter took the road to Al-Ittihad to form an attractive team alongside Karim Benzema in particular. And it works.
The 2016 and 2017 English champion has so far already participated in more meetings than last year with Chelsea. He forms a grandiose duo with Fabinho, the Brazilian allowing him to project himself with the ball. Demonstrated by his magnificent goal against Al-Fateh. Under his new tunic, the Frenchman has finally won more than ten matches in a row. Better still, its performance is very satisfactory. Something to catch Didier Deschamps’ eye?
One more headache for Didier Deschamps
According to The Team, the Blues coach is reportedly considering recalling the 32-year-old midfielder internally, but two questions arise for him: 1: Difficult to recall a manager so as not to use him as before. 2: How to reintegrate Kanté without depriving the “new” generation of minutes to grow? What is certain is that Kanté remains selectable, he who has not retired internationally. At the end of last August, Didier Deschamps had also hinted that a return was possible for the former resident of Stamford Bridge, if he “continue the matches”.
“Do you have the image of a man who causes problems in a locker room? All he needs is the Euro to complete the loop. It would be fabulous to end with this title”, we murmur in those around the player, who has obviously not forgotten the French team. Quiet, professional and obviously endowed with an immense volume of play on the field, in addition to his other qualities, the profile of N’Golo Kanté would undoubtedly not hurt the Blues. It remains to be seen what his role would be within the team.
What integration?
Tuesday evening, at 9 p.m., the France team will face Scotland. The opportunity for the usual replacements Boubacar Kamara and Youssouf Fofana to show themselves, while “NG” rears its ugly head. The first is very comfortable in front of the defense and has had a great start to the season with Aston Villa (5th in the Premier League). The second was close to leaving this summer, but remained in France to solidify his executive status at AS Monaco. Far ahead of them in the hierarchy, Didier Deschamps has been trying to build a trio – or even a quartet – made up of Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antoine Griezmann as well as Eduardo Camavinga (Swiss army knife of the team) for around 18 months. A base, young certainly, but which proved itself during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Paul Pogba, definitively removed from the France team after his recent escapades, may have left the field open for N’Golo Kanté to take the apron and thus make his way to the Blues. But will the 2018 World Champion agree to come back to be on the bench? Will he already be on the bench? When we know the impressive record and impeccable performances of the former Chelsea player, it’s difficult to imagine him outside the field. It is also difficult to see Didier Deschamps come and break the excellent structure created in the midfield with a Tchouaméni who has become imperial this season, a Griezmann who is still as decisive and a Rabiot perfect in his role to balance the left flank. N’Golo Kanté could – if he continues – upset the plans of the Blues coach, at the dawn of Euro 2024 which promises to be more than open.
