In an interview with CFC this Sunday, Presnel Kimpembe spoke for the first time about his last two years marked by struggles. The 2018 world champion says he is close to a comeback, and more ready than ever to play again for his training club.
You would almost have to dust off the PSG archives to find a trace of a Presnel Kimpembe match. Sidelined since February 2023 and his ruptured right Achilles tendon, the 2018 world champion had obviously not made this injury a celebration, but he certainly did not imagine it to be so bitter either. Between relapses and surgical operations, Presko’ had to do everything he could to not sink psychologically. But that’s it, after having to overcome 1000 obstacles during his convalescence, the 29-year-old defender says he is back.
“I feel very good, I have good sensations, I have resumed collective training but it has been a long year. Have I thought about stopping football? But no, never,” he assured in an interview with Canal Football Club this Sunday. But he confirms having experienced the ordeal: “I had a ruptured Achilles tendon, it is the worst injury, worse than the cruciate ligaments. At that time, we question everything a little, and even if I am seen a little as dead, I know that I will come back. Never in my life could I have thought that I would go a year and a half, or even 2 years without playing, and be so patient, waiting every day at training without knowing when I would come back,” he admitted, specifying that he had kept in daily contact with the squad to keep a routine of a professional player. He sees himself playing in Paris again.
Obviously, after almost two years of absence, there are doubts about his ability to get back to his best level and make a place for himself in Luis Enrique’s squad, where Pacho has been able to gain depth in recent weeks. As a reminder, Christophe Galtier was still the Parisian coach during Kimpembe’s last match, against OM, on February 26, 2023, which completely reshuffles the cards in the eyes of the Asturian today. But Kimpembe is not afraid, he who remains tied to PSG until 2026 now.
“In all the big teams, there is competition, I knew it when I arrived, I still know it today, and tomorrow too. It’s not a problem, I started with the greatest: Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, David Luiz, Zoumana Camara, Abdou Diallo… I know the competition. A love affair with Paris? Of course, and it’s reciprocal. When you’re from Paris, you grow up there and you train to be a pro… There aren’t many of them (…) When the time comes, you’ll discover a new Presnel, always ready to defend the club’s colours, 100%, with the same hunger and the same anger.” Parisian supporters are just waiting to see.
