Chelsea without its saviour: the Blues need N’Golo Kante desperately

In the blink of an eye, it is clear that the new ownership group is not messing around one bit, and just 99 days after taking over for Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel is out the door.

From sitting on top of the world last year at the beginning of February to losing to GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the opening match of the Champions League group stage, Tuchel has experienced it all as the lead man for a club going through unprecedented turmoil toward the conclusion of last season. As star midfielder N’Golo Kante begins to add even more wear and tear on his body above the age of 30, the Blues are missing arguably the most essential piece that led them to a Champions League crown just a few months after Tuchel took the helm.

Kante finished the Champions League season in 2020/21 playing the most matches of any Chelsea player including the goalkeepers, and was top five on the Blues for total successful pressures in the defensive, attacking, and middle third of the pitch. The Frenchman has given everything in the tank for CFC during the past two seasons under Tuchel, and since Kante departed the pitch in the 84th minute of an intense match against Spurs, the Blues have conceded nine goals while netting just four in all competitions. As he still recovers from a hamstring injury, Chelsea is still in the dark about when its dynamic midfielder will make his much-needed return.