Tick tock, tick tock… Just three weeks from the announcement of the list of players called up to compete in the World Cup in Qatar, every news concerning the seriously injured French team is scrutinized carefully. Thus, Juventus’ announcement on Tuesday that Paul Pogba has “partially” resumed collective training has not gone unnoticed by the Blues staff. Passing through Villeparisis (Seine-et-Marne) on Tuesday to meet the educators of the Ligue d’Île-de-France, Didier Deschamps obviously welcomed the news, while remaining very cautious about the deadlines for the return of the midfielder.
“The most important thing is that he’s healed, and I think he will be, and that’s a good thing,” DD said. Then there is a second aspect which is athletic. Time has passed between the last games he played and today. But I repeat, before thinking of a summons, he must be healed. »
Last month, the coach wanted to be very clear on the conditions of Pogba’s presence in Qatar. He will only take it if he feels the player is fully fit. Playing a few minutes with Juve just before the gong will not necessarily be enough to convince him. In any case, Pogba is ahead on the scoreboard. The surgeon who operated on his meniscus had estimated at “eight weeks” the time needed before the resumption of collective training. The French, passed on the billiards on September 5, went a little faster.
On the other hand, it’s all over for his sidekick in midfielder N’Golo Kanté. As announced in the press this weekend, the Chelsea player is officially forfeited. His club announced on Tuesday that he had undergone surgery “by mutual agreement” after consultation with a specialist. “Following a successful operation, N’Golo is now expected to be out for four months,” the London club added in their statement.
“I am sad for him. He is disappointed, commented Deschamps. Not having “NG” is one less force, due to his energy, his experience. Humanly, he is such an endearing little man, who always has a smile and who has always been very important for all his clubs and for us. He will be missed but we have to deal with it. “The only thing to save in this story is that he had time, with all the physical glitches of Kanté these last two years, to prepare the succession.