They never miss a Paris-Saint-Germain game, and they wouldn't have missed this one for the world. As usual, it is in the incandescent atmosphere of a shisha bar in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) that Presnel Kimpembe's relatives met this Tuesday, August 18 to attend the half - PSG Champions League final, which won 3-0 against Leipzig.
Several proudly wear the number 3 of the international tricolor. Around Kevin, the big brother of the Parisian defender, they are nearly twenty to have gathered in the back room of the establishment to support their protégé and the club of the capital, which celebrated its return to this level of competition after 25 years.
The vast majority of the troop comes from the Dix-Arpents district in Eragny-sur-Oise (Val-d'Oise), where the world champion grew up and made his first dribbles. He also defended the colors of the local club for three seasons, before joining the PSG training center in 2005. “He always comes back to the neighborhood, he does not take himself for a star, slips Bilel. He's a world champion, but he's never changed. It is a source of pride for us that he is at this level. On or off the pitch, there is never anything wrong with him. And if Paris wins the competition… World champion, winner of the Champions League, there aren't that many French people who have done it… ”
"It would be nice for him, and for us too…"
The first shivers run through the audience from the kick-off, with the shot on the post from Neymar, then the refused goal from Mbappé. The explosion of joy comes at the opening of the scoring of Marquinhos (13th), and the young Val-d'Oisiens leap into the thick smoke of hookahs, then a second time on the goal of the break of Di Maria (42nd ). At the break, the faces are smiling, and that of Kevin Kimpembe, who appreciated the performance of his brother, is no exception to the rule.
“I found him solid, he is in his game, he relishes. He simply took a card not necessarily justified. I am very proud of him. Paris is his favorite club. Winning this Champions League, it would be great for him, and for us too… ”“ If he is there, it is thanks to his work, his determination, adds Sékou, Presnel's best friend, at his side. In training, he always arrived before the others, and left after. It’s so nice to see someone from their city succeed like this… ”