I was scrolling down my Twitter timeline the other day when a video caught my eye. It was one of those player compilations, a two-minute highlight reel. Given the subject of the video, I was inevitably drawn in. And as one standout moment followed another, it dawned on me just how big a loss Chelsea have suffered this season.
The player in question was N'Golo Kante and the video focused on Chelsea's run to the 2021 Champions League. Clips were taken from wins over Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Manchester City, matches in which Kante produced arguably his most influential performances in blue.
I don't think it's an exaggeration to claim Chelsea would not have won the Champions League that season without Kante in their midfield. He was as important – admittedly in a very different way – as Lionel Messi in Barcelona's European triumphs, as Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid's great successes.
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Kante was the ultimate disruptor in those knockout-stage matches – yet he was also so much more. Intelligent passes were played regularly, quick one-twos were produced often, and bursts forward in possession that broke through opposition midfields were frequent. "He is the guy you need to win trophies," said Thomas Tuchel. "That’s why we’re so, so happy he’s here."
There isn't another player in the Chelsea squad who can replace Kante's output. The same could be said for Reece James, who is also currently sidelined with a knee injury. But while much has been written over the past week about James' absence, there hasn't been a great deal of discussion around Kante.
That is predominantly because Kante has been out since August. The France international suffered a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and hasn't featured since. He was close to a return a fortnight ago, even training with the first-team squad at Cobham. Then came a setback. And it was a big one.
A consultation with a specialist was required after which it was decided Kante would undergo surgery. His recovery period would be four months. It not only ruled the 31-year-old out of the World Cup but also ensured Chelsea will not reap the benefit of Kante's talents until February.
Such have been the midfielder's fitness problems over the past three years, this news was met with something of a collective shrug by many Chelsea supporters. Of course, there was disappointment and frustration but playing without Kante has become the new norm for the Blues, something Tuchel highlighted at the end of last season.
"He is our key, key, key player," the German said, "but key, key, key players need to be on the pitch. He plays only 40% of the games so it is maybe a miracle that we arrive in third place. He is our Mo Salah, he is our [Virgil] van Dijk, he is our [Kevin] De Bruyne. He is simply that player, he is our Neymar, our Kylian Mbappe.
"He is the guy who makes the difference – and if you only have him for 40% then it is a huge problem. It puts everything into perspective as I saw Liverpool without van Dijk last season [2020/21], and they struggled heavily. You see the difference. N'Golo is our key player. We need him on the pitch."
Since Kante limped off against Tottenham, not a great deal has been made of his absence by pundits and opposition supporters. Even some of Chelsea's own are somewhat apathetic. Yet would a prolonged spell out for Salah be brushed over by Liverpool fans? Would Man City's fanbase dismiss a six-month layoff for De Bruyne? It's unlikely.
Perhaps there is an element of emotional protection among Chelsea supporters; not only have Kante's absences become frequent but there is the very real possibility the French star will depart at the end of the campaign when his contract expires.
That is a decision for the club hierarchy to take in the months ahead. It certainly won't be an easy one. There is not another player out there quite like Kante, there are countless YouTube and Twitter compilations out there to prove it. Unfortunately, that may no longer be enough.
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