Thomas Tuchel has compared N’Golo Kante to the game’s modern greats, including Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and believes it’s a “miracle” Chelsea will finish in third place, given he has been without the so many times this season midfielder got along.
The Blues drew 1-1 at home to Leicester City on Wednesday night, a result that all but confirms their final placement save for a near-impossible three-point and 18-goal swing against Tottenham on the final day.
– Olley: New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly witnessed the work ahead in a poor draw against Leicester
– You don’t have ESPN? Get instant access
Kante made only his 20th Premier League start this season after enduring a season marred by various fitness issues, including a groin injury that delayed his start to the season, contracting COVID-19 and various muscle problems.
The 31-year-old world champion, who has one year left on contract, was a key figure in last year’s Champions League triumph and when asked about the Frenchman’s appearance against Leicester – his first start since April 28 – Tuchel said : “I think he’s our key, key, key player but key, key, key player has to be on the pitch and if he only plays 40% of games then maybe it’s a wonder we finish third. He is our Mo Salah, our [Virgil] van Dijk, unser [Kevin] The brown one.
“He’s just that player. He’s our Neymar, our Kylian Mbappe, he’s the guy who makes the difference and when you only have 40% of him that’s a huge problem.”
“It’s perhaps a wonder how consistently we get results and put everything in perspective because I saw Liverpool last season without Van Dijk and they struggled a lot. You see the difference. N’Golo is our key player but he has to be on pitch.”
When asked if he was confident that Chelsea could find a solution to Kante’s injury woes, Tuchel replied: “I hope so. It’s hard to live with because it’s important to be there to have the rhythm.
“I thought he played well [against Leicester] but he can play so much better but when was his last game when he started? It’s been weeks, so he’s starting to get rhythm all the time, and when he has rhythm, a little injury comes along and he’s out again.
“Imagine last year: he was in the last five matches of the Champions League, he got the Man of the Match trophy. They gave him the trophy before the game, it was clear and this guy will be man of the game in every Champions League game, he’s only here for 40% of the games, that’s huge for us.
“We are doing everything to solve it, including him of course. I don’t blame him. It’s a concern and a fact that we miss him a lot because he brings something that is unique in world football and he has that ability to lift everyone up and make the difference. That is the challenge for him and for us.”
–
