Am I jumping on the N’Golo Kante
love bandwagon? Oh, I am. In fact, I am a big fan. To be honest, the first time
I see him playing was when Chelsea met Arsenal this season at Stamford Bridge. And
for 90 minutes I could not help but shaking my head in disbelief. He was
everywhere, He covered every space that could be covered, he tackled anyone
that dared to cross the middle third, he chased the ball wherever it went. Now,
people, if your Geography teacher ever says that 2/3 of earth is covered by
water, don’t believe him, because water does not, Kante does. His performance
leads to a comparison with Claude Makelele. Although they bear so many
similarities, Kante is more advanced that Makelele ever was. Makelele would do
whatever it took to stop you from getting into his defensive area, while Kante
will hunt the ball down wherever it is. You go through the middle, Kante is
there. You attack from the right side, Kante is there. You go left, he is still
there. You go home, Kante… Well he might follow you home, though. I think that’s
what he did to Mesut Ozil, dude has been missing this season. (Sorry, Arsenal
fans).
Last
season pandemonium in stands broke out every time Vardy and Mahrez performed
their attacking prowess while in the title race Kante was busy pulling the
Leicester chariot to the finish line. Everyone sang their praises for the
dynamic duo of Leicester but it was Kante who ended up respected the most by
fellow professional footballers, managers and pundits.
However,
it did not make him stayed at the King Power stadium. He left to join the
wounded Chelsea who had suffered an embarrassment in the previous season.
Rising under the leadership of Antonio Conte, the French dynamo has been very
pivotal this season for Chelsea where he partners up with Nemanja Matic. While
Matic anchoring the midfield area, Kante keeps every opponent at bay.
So
far I have an intelligent anchor man and a restless machine in my midfield
area, it is time to meet the magician and he is….
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