Together, they reached the highest peak, tasting the precious exhilaration that comes with victory in the World Cup final. Blaise Matuidi and N’Golo Kanté were both starters in 2018, when the France team snatched the second star in its history from the sky. For Didier Deschamps, the two midfielders were the guarantors of the balance of the Blues.
One played his last international match in 2019 and has 84 caps for 9 goals. Aged 37, Blaise Matuidi even hung up his career two years ago, after a final stint at Inter Miami. The former Paris Saint-Germain player, who was in Nanterre at the beginning of the month for an operation around his start-up Playse, took a few minutes to talk about N’Golo Kanté (55 caps, 2 goals), author of a major performance against Austria on Monday.
Were you surprised by N’Golo Kanté’s return to the French team?
BLAISE MATUIDI. Surprised, no. N’Golo, I know him well enough to know that, even while playing in Saudi Arabia, he remained efficient. During every training session, every match, he is at 100%, even 200%. He brings real added value to this French team.
Is it reassuring to play with a player of his caliber in the middle, capable of securing this sector?
I think it’s important to have a player of this profile. He links the game, he has an ability to cover the ground which is enormous. Above all, people forget him, but he has immense technical quality. It’s all simple but the ball sticks to his foot.
On his ball catches, in particular, he is capable of gaining a lot of meters…
We don’t notice him enough, because he’s not going to do leg passes to you, or other gestures of that type. In truth, he doesn’t need that. He is a fairly exceptional player in his first touches of the ball. It’s very hard to take the ball away from him, and I’m in a good position to talk about it (laughs). Above all, he has a capacity for destruction around him which is enormous.
“He speaks with his feet”
From the outside, N’Golo Kanté is very discreet, even shy. Does he still communicate on the pitch?
Rather, he speaks with his feet on the ground. In fact, he conditions us as an example, in relation to what he gives off, to the perception that we can have when looking at him. His strength is not being a barker. And in a team, it is also necessary to have players who exude their talent and their exemplary nature.
At the Blues, everyone seems to appreciate him. What is its role in group life?
On a daily basis, N’Golo is a huge plus. It’s undeniable. He is adorable ! When you are with him, you want to cuddle him, make him laugh, spend time with him. He always has a smile. But above all, he is very clever (he laughs). He hides it, but he also has that side to his personality. This whole little perception of him really pleases me.
Do you have a memory that could illustrate this mischievous side?
Yes (a broad smile appears on his face). I’m not going to be very original, but I remember card games where he had this cheating aspect. But it’s part of his personality and, frankly, he’s someone we adore.
