Three key clashes as Chelsea hosts Spurs: N’Golo Kante vs. Harry Kane
By Varun Dani
2. Harry Kane vs. N’Golo Kante
At the heart of each side’s early season form has been a renaissance of sorts for world class players previously deemed to be past it. N’Golo Kante and Harry Kane have had their injury struggles in the past couple of seasons, raising question marks over current capabilities. The duo seems to have taken this personally, putting in world class displays week in and week out to silence all doubters.
Kane seems to be doing his best Kevin De Bruyne impression, assuming the role of Spurs’ chief playmaker this season. England’s captain has adapted his playing style after injuries took a toll over his body, playing in a much deeper role than a regular striker would. The move has paid fantastic dividends in the form of nine assists in nine games to add to his seven goals. Kane has become the most complete attacker in England—and arguably the world—right now. Lampard simply cannot give him the space in midfield to pick out passes and release the likes of Son, as that would effectively decide the game. Luckily, he has an ever-smiling Frenchman in his side who just happens to specialize in devouring space in midfield.
Kante is a generational player and that is a surprisingly understated fact. Yes, there are plenty of good and often great defensive midfielders every few years, but none of them come close to the way Kante operates in a football match. He is a machine that senses danger and relentlessly stops threatening moves before they can be damaging. However, just because an Italian genius played him out of position and injuries plagued him for the first time in years, “loyal fans” wrote him off faster than they wrote off Mason Mount. Now that he’s back in his preferred role and fully fit, the Frenchman is putting in the displays that bring balance to Lampard’s gung-ho approach.
He is crucial to the dual No. 8 system that Lampard seems to favour and will be integral to any title challenge in England or Europe. If there is anyone who can stop this Hurri-Kane, it is this cycling, smiling freak of nature named Kante.