The World Cup will already be far away when N’Golo Kanté returns to the field around mid-February. The essential tricolor midfielder, whose package for the World Cup has been recorded in recent days, has had hamstring surgery (the muscles behind the thigh) and will be unavailable for four months.
The decision to operate was taken “by mutual agreement” after consultation with a specialist, explained the London club Chelsea, adding in its press release: “Following a successful operation, N’Golo should now be unavailable for four months. »
The announcement did not surprise anyone, the world champion having only played the first two days of the Premier League with his club before joining the infirmary.
The sadness of Deschamps
“I am sad for him. He is disappointed. He has had physical problems for the past two seasons. He relapsed after a muscle injury,” said Didier 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 (…) We will miss him, ”added the coach of the Blues.
A little over a week ago, when he seemed about to return to competition after returning to collective training, coach Graham Potter had left him aside for the trip to AC Milan in the Champions League. “N’Golo had a reaction during training, so we are waiting for more information on that,” the coach said at a pre-match press conference. This is obviously not ideal. It’s disappointing for him and for us. We have to wait to see the degree of gravity and we will advise, ”he added.
A few days later, before the trip to Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League, he admitted to being “worried” about this “relapse in the final stages of convalescence”. “Historically, there are things that have happened that are worrying and we must be clear about them,” he continued, referring to Kanté’s numerous absences in recent seasons.
Since the 2019-2020 season, the midfielder has missed more than 60 games for muscle or joint injuries, as well as for two Covid-19 infections. At 31 and with his contract expiring at the end of the season with Chelsea, Kanté will not return until the very end of winter and this surgery almost looks like a last-ditch operation to get his career back on track. .