Paris (AFP)
Guided by "O monstro" Thiago Silva, the Parisian defense has finally found its "maestro": Presnel Kimpembe, back in shape after a complicated last season and a pubalgie, has rebounded to offer PSG perfect debut in the Champions League, before moving to Bruges, Tuesday (21:00).
Two clean sheets against Real Madrid (3-0), and Galatasaray in front of his boiling public (1-0), were enough to forget his fatal hand in the last moments of the 8th final against Manchester United (defeat 3-1), last March.
Back on the field after an operation of his pubalgie at the end of May, the French world champion (24 years) has regained his best level after experiencing the worst season of his career.
Very convincing since his first tenure against Real at the end of September at the Parc des Princes, "Presko" has continued to chain the benefits of high level. Except the quarrel against Reims (defeat 2-0) in Ligue 1, where he had inherited the captain's armband.
"Personally, I know how to question myself, my last season was not good, I'm a competitor, so it was important for me to get back to the level, it made my character," he said. Thursday in press conference, before the success in Nice (4-1) in the league.
- "A heart to return to the level" -
And it was necessary to recover from a late 2018/2019 nightmarish exercise on all levels.
On February 12, he scored for the first time under the colors of his training club, in the round of 16 of C1 go against "ManU" (2-0). But on the return, his hand in the surface in the last moments of the match precipitated a new "remontada" fatal ...
Diminished by his pains and low morale after the umpteenth European fiasco, he had chained the blunders, like his goal against his side against Rennes (2-2, 6-5 tab) in the final lost in French Cup.
Six months later, Kimpembe finally rose to the height of his new status: that of world champion and taulier PSG. How? 'Or' What ? Thanks to a summer preparation, as necessary as it is demanding.
"Mine was special and longer, the goal is achieved, I had to come back physically and I feel it," he savored.
To the point of quickly extinguish the competition of Abdou Diallo, recruited this summer to his position, and make his return to the French team at the last rally, taking advantage in particular of the absences of Samuel Umtiti and Aymeric Laporte.
- Last survivor at the "titis" -
"It's a goal to be an indisputable holder (club), it's normal when you're a competitor.It is also my heart among the Blues, but everything in its time. I'm working on these goals, "he said, as Euro-2020 looms this summer.
In Paris, the "titi" Paris is a survivor since the massive sale of talent from the Paris training this summer. With the responsibilities that implies.
After Adrien Rabiot (Juventus Turin), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), or Timothy Weah (Lille), even Alphonse Aréola (Real Madrid), however world champion like him, was pushed to the exit !
Only young Adil Aouchiche (17) and Loïc Mbe Soh (18), members of the new wave, have had some playing time this season.
"Having + titis + is always fun, but it's complicated, there's no room for everyone," Kimpembe warned, "so I'm trying to guide them as we did with me. There are difficult times, it's normal in the life of a + titi +, they have to cling. " Presnel "the big brother" showed the example.
© 2019 AFP