Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has made his name in world football as the world-class defensive midfielder with enormous quality in intercepting play and making solid tackles but the last few weeks have not been too kind to the France star.
The 27-year old was recently awarded a new bumper contract by Chelsea, making him the highest paid player at the club, even ahead of star forward Eden Hazard. However, after Maurizio Sarri introduced the fluid 4-3-3 system that needed a technical player at the base of the midfield three, Jorginho or Cesc Fabregas have been preferred in the role.
Kante has lost his position in defensive midfield and is now regarded as a box-to-box midfielder on the right side of the pitch. His runs forward have left spaces behind him, giving the Blues problems when dealing with counter attacks.
Sarri has also come under pressure to restore the former Leicester City midfield destroyer to his favored role but Eden Hazard explains, Kante is integral to how Chelsea play and will come good soon.
“He’s very important, believe me. The way the manager wants him to play is a bit different to last year and two years ago, but I think he can adapt.
He’s clever on the pitch and in midfield he’s one of the best in the world, we all know that. ‘He’s won almost everything so we need him and he will show the best of N’Golo soon.”
Eden Hazard, Metro
