Kingsley Coman says his injury problems helped him grow as a player in recent interview

Kingsley Coman has enjoyed a fine start to the 2019/2020 campaign with Bayern Munich, and has also had some solid performances for France in their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. So far this season, he’s scored 3 goals and has provided 3 assists for Bayern in six appearances across competitions, and he has been one of the clubs most consistent performers alongside Robert Lewandowski.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Coman’s success so far this season is especially refreshing because of the injury setbacks he’s faced in the past two seasons. Despite those massive setbacks, the pacey winger said in a recent interview with France Football that those experiences have helped him grow as a player, even if he has physically slowed down a bit. Coman said,

Physically, I feel a little less fast than before. I’m less able to repeat my efforts at 18-19 years old. So, at this level now, I don’t feel especially stronger. But technically, tactically, and professionally, yes. In my head, too. The stages of life, the injuries, the maturity, have made me stronger on the inside. As you grow up, you see life differently ... I’m still young and I have a lot of energy to give. I still always love soccer as much and am always hungry.

After a bright start to his career with Bayern Munich in the 2015/2016 season under Pep Guardiola, Coman faced great expectations as one of the rising young talents in the squad and in the Bundesliga as a whole. Self confidence and his own personal expectations of himself, Coman said, helped him not feel the pressure after he’d been labeled a rising star:

A burden? Not at all. I have examples of precocious players who failed to explode. I didn’t know things would end knew just because they started early. Expectations and confidence in myself motivated me. I didn’t want to disappoint... The injuries prevented me from playing whole seasons. But those who follow German soccer saw some good things.

Looking back on the 2018 World Cup, it’s always going to hurt for Coman to have missed out through injury, but he’s always looking forward and ready to help Les Bleus when he’s in Didier Deschamp’s squad. Most recently, he impressed for his country when he scored a brace vs. Albania and then a goal against Andorra in France’s pair of Euro 2020 qualifiers. Taking the most of his chances for Les Blues is something he realizes he needs to do, especially given his injury history:

The injuries played a major part... If I hadn’t been injured before the World Cup, perhaps I could have played a part... I might have been able to play excellent matches if I had had the chance to play. But I think that I always have had a good attitude and especially the desire. By staying on that trajectory, it’ll pay off... I don’t play to become the star of the team... People can count on me.

Thoroughly impressive statistics from Coman this season: