Look out Europe, N’Golo Kante is back.
And after back-to-back man of the match awards in Germany it isn’t just the international game that needs to be put on notice.
Kante, 33, has returned to the France squad for the first time in two years, and looks like he’s never been away. The midfielder missed the Qatar World Cup with a hamstring injury, and then ended his career in the Premier League when he moved to Saudi side Al-Ittihad last summer. For some players the opening of the wallet would signal the closing of their careers, but Kante has always been built differently.
“I’m happy to be back in my boots and back in a competition, and also to receive praise and support,” he said ahead of France’s meeting with Poland in Dortmund.
“I feel good. Last season went well for me, there was good preparation before coming to the Euros, and I hope it can continue in this way.
“There are other players who can replace me if needs be, but I want to continue and I want to give all I’ve got.” It is the only way he knows how.
Football fans the world over fell in love with Kante for his all-action displays as he won the Premier League in successive seasons with Leicester and Chelsea, following that up with the World Cup in 2018.
His ability to cover every blade of grass on the pitch was only matched by his humility off it, but as he gets older he says he’s learning when to speak up.
“I think it’s about knowing what to say in the right moment, something that I’ve learned in my time at Chelsea and over the past few years,” he said.
“Maybe it’s maturity, maybe that I understand where my head needs to be. It’s working for me and I hope that will continue, but what’s important is working together.”
Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann are the only two players older than Kante in a French squad packed with young talent, but he admits the role of mentor doesn’t come easily.
“I can share knowledge with the younger ones,” admitted Kante. “But it’s not really my personality to lead, and to want to speak every session. When we’re on the pitch is when I can really show them a lot more easily.”
Will he come back to a Premier League pitch soon then? “I don’t think my European career is over,” he said. “I would love to come back. I had a really good year in Saudi Arabia. It’s a different type of football and experience, but I’m really happy to be back with France. It’s beautiful.”
Didier Deschamps is set to ring the changes for the clash with the already eliminated Poles, with Kylian Mbappe pushing to start after his broken nose.
