French national team coach Didier Deschamps was asked by Le Parisien to comment on Presnel Kimpembe’s return to competitive action this Tuesday against Le Mans in the 8th final of the Coupe de France 2024-2025. He insisted on patience for the 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender, who has 28 caps for the French national team.
Deschamps “Presnel has always been a leader with a very strong mental outlook.”
“There’s the joy of seeing him back on the pitch. After such a long absence, we need to give him time to regain his sensations and his best condition, but I’m very happy for him. Presnel has always been a leader with a very strong mental outlook. It served him well during his convalescence.“
We may or may not believe in Kimpembe’s return to form after a long absence. But there’s no denying his strength of character, and that he’ll do his utmost to get back to his best. This strong mentality is part of his profile as a very combative, aggressive defender.
Of course, we hope to see the Parisian Titi back at the highest level. However, there is still some doubt, given that he already had a number of shortcomings to correct before his long injury. Not least in his concentration. There’s a lot of catching up to do, and the competition is tough. Let’s wait and see how the next few months go. We mustn’t be too hasty. Kimpembe will still have to rely on his mental strength.
