He’s finally back. Taking advantage of the international retirement of Antoine Griezmann and the absence of Kylian Mbappé, Christopher Nkunku returned to the France team for the October rally. A reward for the attacking midfielder who has been brilliant since the start of the season with Chelsea. With the Blues, the player trained at PSG has 7 goals in 11 games. An impressive performance, especially for a player who is returning from a year marked by injuries and who must be content with replacement status.
Obviously, the native of Lagny-sur-Marne arrives with revenge for this gathering. And the timing works out well because, with the absence of Antoine Griezmann, the former RB Leipzig has the possibility of supporting the striker in Didier’s 4-2-3-1 Deschamps. To do this, the October gathering will be a real opportunity for the 26-year-old who is aware of the meeting that awaits him in the coming days. Present at a press conference this Tuesday, the new number 10 of the Blues displayed his ambitions, he who has experienced so many disappointments under the jersey of the rooster.
Christopher Nkunku is ready to take over from Antoine Griezmann
Obviously, the comparison with Antoine Griezmann will not fail to be noted from the first steps of Christopher Nkunku’s return. While Zinedine Zidane’s successors had been sought for years, Griezmann’s successors will also be scrutinized in the coming months. Asked about his similarities with the Atlético legend, the Blues striker admitted that he will be ready to contribute to the Blues in his own way and without modeling himself on Grizou’s style: “I am very happy to return to the French team after more than a year of absence, Antoine Griezmann left an immense legacy in the French team. He marks a generation of football. I’m not trying to replace him, I just want to make my contribution. We have different characteristics. The coach knows me well, even if I am not a club starter, I try to perform as well as possible.»
Performances which will be closely observed by fans and followers of the France team to find out if Christopher Nkunku is a credible candidate for the post-Griezmann era. Back after a difficult year, the right-hander expressed his desire to settle down permanently with the Blues and intends to become a starter in the short and long term: “I want to stay there and perform, that’s one of my goals. I have come a long way, the injuries are behind me. The goal is to stay fit and healthy. I want to enjoy and have fun on the pitch. It’s the coach who chooses if I start. All the players want to start the matches. I don’t keep a low profile because I’m hungry to play and show what I’m capable of.» Place on the pitch and the match against Israel this Thursday (9 p.m.).
