Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Real Madrid was certainly one of the most anticipated and exciting matches in recent Chelsea history. In an absolute deluge of rain, the Blues’ defense held Real to only one shot on target—an admittedly incredible strike from Karim Benzema—for the entire match. This is a promising sign for the second leg, in which the west London side must revert to its old ways under Jose Mourinho and park the freaking bus.
One huge reason for Chelsea’s defensive success on Tuesday was undoubtedly the play of N’Golo Kante, who earned Man of the Match honors for his performance. Both offensively and defensively, the diminutive Frenchman controlled the tempo of the match. His world-renowned work ethic was also on display, as Kante’s heat map for the UCL semifinal should be hung in the Louvre.
Looking at the statistics, there is no question that Kante was the best player on the pitch against Real Madrid. His seven recoveries and 25 total duels were crucial in Chelsea’s midfield dominance, as Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro were held in check. The legendary trio has been in impressive form lately, so the Kante-Jorginho duo was always going to be one of the most important pairings for the Blues.
Additionally, with a defensively sound back-five behind him, Kante was given a license to carry the ball up the field more than he normally would as a lone DM. He was effective in the attack, as well, making 56 passes with an 87.5 percent accuracy. One of those passes was a key pass, and Kante’s six successful dribbles created a ton of space for his teammates. He probably could have had an assist too had Raphael Varane not cynically scythed down Kai Havertz just outside the box in the 77’.
While the stats are important, just watching Kante play is a joy for anyone who truly loves the game of football. He has consistently been an important cog in Thomas Tuchel’s well-oiled machine, despite appearing to be third choice behind Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic when all three are healthy. This immense performance on the biggest stage, though, might give the Chelsea manager a more difficult decision when he is selecting the team’s first XI going forward.
A number of respected names in the world football community have been singing Kante’s praises for his 90’ against Real since the final whistle. Specifically, ex-Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who took to Twitter to extol his former teammate. A complement from Fabregas, known to be one of the most intelligent footballers in the game’s recent history, was sure to bring out Kante’s famously sheepish smile.
Looking ahead to next Wednesday’s second leg, Kante will likely be a pivotal figure again. As I said earlier, Chelsea will need to sit back and defend with everything it has, as a clean sheet is the only objective. The 2018 World Cup champion is built for occasions such as these. The Frenchman’s big-game experience will ensure that the moment does not get to him. Tuesday’s performance was just another example of why Kante continually proves he’s a world class player.
Has your opinion of Kante changed at all this season? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!