N’Golo Kante is a player that I consider to be untouchable. There is just something about his work rate that draws fans into a state of awe. Unfortunately, the Frenchman will have to depart from west London someday. Whether or not he retires here is up for debate.
Putting the sentiment aside, Kante has his poor performances like everyone else. Chelsea faced Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, and his performance was met with a sea of mixed reviews. I can understand why. We all know players can give a good and bad performance because they are human. It’s completely uncanny!
Whilst there were moments to remember for the 30-year-old, there were also events to forget. This is the Kante good, the bad, the ugly.
The Good
If you need a player to work hard across the 115 yards of Wembley stadium, Kante is your man. He was absolutely everywhere during that final. His heat map below proves it. He was clinical with interceptions decisive in tackles. Heck, only Trevoh Chalobah made more interceptions than him out of everyone on the pitch.
Every time I look at Kante’s heat map or dissect his tackles, interceptions, and distance ran, it always tells the same story. He works harder than anyone else. If you ask me what position does the Frenchman play? I’d say he plays the Kante position. There’s no way to subject him as a 6 or an 8.
The Carabao Cup final saw Thomas Tuchel go with a more pressing midfield with a Kante and Mateo Kovacic pivot. The pair executed their primary duties excellently. It’s always difficult to press Liverpool, who are the kings of pressing in my eyes. Jurgen Klopp’s rendition of the infamous ‘Gegenpress’ would leave you out of breath just watching it. However, Kante managed to give their midfield a run for their money. It was difficult for the Reds to find a path that he would not track.
The Bad
Have you ever found a negative in such a flawless player and refused to acknowledge it? Yes, me too. Kante is one of those players where the work rate is enough to forget about the mistakes. I wouldn’t say the Frenchman had particularly made any blatant blunders, but some of his decision making was questionable.
In a rush to beat the ruthless press from the likes of Fabinho, Naby Keita, Diaz, I’d often see Kante make rushed decisions to get the ball away quickly. Now, I appreciate the urgency to clear the storm but it’s also necessary to calm the storm too. Often it felt as though Liverpool were stepping on our necks, not allowing us to breathe. This is where the brilliance of Jorginho was probably needed.
Jorginho is the man that handles any turbulence with grace. The weight of his passes, his vision, and his press resistance is what makes him a regular starter for Tuchel. His ability to dictate the midfield goes unappreciated at times, but I, for one, felt his absence over the weekend.
Kante and Kovacic are more chaotic midfielders, whilst Jorginho is as smooth as a glass of fine Italian wine. It was no wonder the Blues gained more control once he was introduced after extra time. For the 15 minutes he played, It was probably the calmest Chelsea had been in possession.
The Ugly
There is nothing ugly about Kante. He’s the most beautiful player on earth. Humble, kind. He minds his business in his Mini Cooper. He executes his job to the maximum every single time.
However, we are closing in on the Summer transfer window. Believe it or not, there are only three months left till the window opens! The talk within the terrace is that a couple of midfielders will need to make way for Chelsea to fund their dream starting lineup. Aurelien Tchouameni, Declan Rice, and Jules Kounde are already on the ‘must haves’ list for the Blues. Someone will have to give way, so every performance counts.
Whilst Kante would be the last person I’d sell in the team. We have to put the sentiment aside. His performance against Liverpool could be a sign of a slight decline, especially following his run of injuries. Social media has been filled with questions surrounding the need for a player with a work rate that always demands possession.
If the fans think this, I wonder what Tuchel and his trusted advisors believe.
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