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Three big questions: Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and the pursuit of more time

By Travis Tyler

Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante (L) runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on June 21, 2020. (Photo by MOLLY DARLINGTON / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MOLLY DARLINGTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante (L) runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on June 21, 2020. (Photo by MOLLY DARLINGTON / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MOLLY DARLINGTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante (L) vies with Newcastle United’s French midfielder Allan Saint-Maximin during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on January 18, 2020. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante (L) vies with Newcastle United’s French midfielder Allan Saint-Maximin during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on January 18, 2020. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante has had a rough year thanks to injuries. What questions should be asked ahead of the coming season?

N’Golo Kante was rushed back from injury to play in last season’s Europa League final. He was reinjured and spent the first half of the season just trying to recover from that. When he did return, it was again rushed and he missed more time. With his injury woes and age beginning to creep in, what questions do Chelsea need to ask of Kante ahead of the new season?

1. Can he put his injury issues behind him?

Kante played in just 28 games of the 2019/2020 season, missing another 25 through injury or concerns about injury. That is a phenomenal regression from his playing time in every other Premier League season and it comes down to, mostly, just rushing him back before he was ready.

Eventually, Frank Lampard took a more cautious approach to Kante’s fitness but whether that remains is an open ended question. The Blues have no player quite like Kante and Lampard has opted to switch to a 3-4-3 rather than run with a 4-3-3 more often than not when the Frenchman has been out.

Chelsea needs to find a deputy to Kante regardless (which could be part of Declan Rice rumors), but the real question needs to be asked about whether or not the Blues can rely on Kante as an option next season. Playing almost 30 games a season is not in of itself a low number, but it is when there is no real alternative.

The Blues will need to continue to be careful with Kante’s fitness next season. Even still, they should be cautious after his woes this season. Chelsea still needs the Frenchman and ideally he would be available as often as possible.

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