Chelsea: World-class brilliance is abundant in the team’s spine

N’Golo Kante

A recent article suggested that one takes N’Golo Kante for granted at one’s peril.  It couldn’t have been more right. When fit, Kante is one of the best, if not the best, central defensive midfielder in world football. And how it has been on display in Chelsea’s recent outings, especially the most recent against Sheffield United. The word immense is not too strong for that showing and his recent showings since obviously regaining full fitness. He then followed up that monster effort with a winning goal for the French national team against Portugal in the Nations’ League.

Is there anything the diminutive, yet robust, modest, and all-around well-liked Kante can’t do? His work rate is immeasurable and his ability to stop counter-attacks in their tracks is really just unsurpassed by anyone in the world. Anyone who clamored for a sale of the French master was misguided. Sure his fitness concerns of later have been troubling, but can anyone question that when he’s fit, Kante is just a whirlwind on the pitch? The only challenge is to keep him fit. That’s the domain of the manager Frank Lampard and the Blues’ physio staff. Avoid overuse. Keep him fit with the squad rotation. And there are really none better.