Chelsea: N’Golo Kante is a blue engine in a world of gadgets
By Travis Tyler
N’Golo Kante is vital to whatever squad he is in. He is the ultimate team player, but for France and Chelsea, he is often stuck with individuals.
Imagine buying a new car. It has all the bells and whistles: navigation, back up camera, cruise control, all wheel drive, etc. But when the keys are turned, it has no engine. As fun as all those gadgets are, they only work at their best with an engine. And the engine only works when all the other important parts are firing at all cylinders.
N’Golo Kante is that engine. He is the perfect team player. Whatever side he is in is instantly served by his energy and tenacity. And on a team that supports the whole, he is perfect. But he often finds himself on teams of individuals that are strengthened by him, but who are stopped from succeeding fully because of their individualism.
Take France, for example. Every major tournament in the last decade sees the same thing said about them; France are too good to not win. But that is analysis done on the individual level. And yes, individually, France have almost no rival. But it is a team game and it is only won as a team.
This can be clearly seen anytime France plays. Kante is the one in the middle constantly looking at how he can help the whole. But the other ten players on the pitch are always looking for their next Youtube highlight reel, their next big money transfer.
France’s last two matches are a great example of this. Against the kids of the United States, Kante was perfect. But the team struggled and could only leave with a draw. Fast forward to the first match of the World Cup against Australia. Kante was excellent, but the French side barely got over the line against a side they should have slaughtered. Too many individuals, too few Kantes.
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Chelsea can also run into this problem. As a whole, Chelsea do much better at playing as a team, especially defensively. But offensively and on possession, they too often rely on individual brilliance. It is clear from observing how this effects Kante.
Watching Kante behind the ball, and he looks like an excellent cog in the machine. Watching Chelsea with the ball, and he is looking for the pass to a better player or offering himself for the pass. But too often are his teammates looking to do it all themselves.
Maurizio Sarri, should he finally sign with Chelsea, has done a great job at Napoli at making a team out of individuals. Every player is capable of winning a match, but they are also all selfless if it means the team wins.
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Sarri would do well to keep Kante in his plans if that were the case. At Chelsea, few players are as already suited to Sarri as Kante. The Italian should love the Frenchman’s energy and tenacity and his willingness to set others up for the win. What Kante lacks technically or in showmanship, he makes up for in selflessness.