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Tag: Kante

  • Kante convinced me he could be on the bench – Tuchel

    Kante convinced me he could be on the bench – Tuchel

    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says he’s managing N’Golo Kante through their Christmas schedule.

    The Frenchman played a key role in the Carabao Cup victory against Brentford midweek.

    “N’Golo convinced me that he could be on the bench [against Brentford] which was very nice from him but also from the whole squad, because everyone was pushing to be on the bench or to be involved in the squad,” explained Tuchel.

    “Nobody gave me the feeling that they would like a pause from this challenging run of games and that is the character I like to see. N’Golo convinced me that he would prefer to be on the bench and to play some minutes rather than having a full rest.

    “We decided to go with N’Golo’s wishes after discussing it with him but also from checking all his data from the last week and we had the green light to give him 20–25 minutes of action.

    “I have praised him so many times and of course he makes a difference. There are simply no other words left to describe him. He is an outstanding talent who would help every single team in the world.”

  • Tuchel responds to Kante’s positive test: Giving vaccine advice not my job

    Tuchel responds to Kante’s positive test: Giving vaccine advice not my job

    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted he is in no position to urge anyone to receive coronavirus vaccinations.

    Midfielder N’Golo Kante has tested positive for COVID-19 and entered self-isolation, meaning he will miss Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League clash at Juventus on Wednesday.

    Tuchel admitted he does not know the percentage of his Chelsea players who have been vaccinated, and insisted he is in no place to make public recommendations about vaccinations.

    “N’Golo unfortunately tested positive, and needs to have time and follow the Government protocols,” said Tuchel.

    “He was not in training today (Tuesday) and of course was not with the group. I don’t know the percentage of players vaccinated actually. It’s not even that I don’t want to tell you but I simply don’t know it.

    “And we are also only a reflection of society, the players are adults and it’s free choice if they want to get vaccinated or not. And I think we should accept it.”

    He pointed out that he could make the decision for himself, but everybody else needed to reflect about it and decide to take a risk or not to.

    “I think it’s a serious question and vaccination seems to be a proper protection. I am vaccinated, I took the decision for myself. But I don’t really see myself in a position to speak out proper recommendations, I think that would go too far.

    “I’m a football coach, I’m not a 100 per cent expert in this and I will leave it up to them. And everybody is adult enough and everybody lives in a free country and a free society, which is a good thing. So, people can make their choices.

    “Of course we take actions and then are responsible for them, and we don’t like to lose players. But we are not now angry with N’Golo. Of course not. We are concerned about him and worried about him, as we are with any injured players who get a kick in a game.”

    Chelsea must take on Juventus in Turin without Kante, and also the injured Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Reece James.

    Mount has lost his battle to shake off a knock in time for the trip to Italy, while James will be out for at least another week with ankle trouble.

  • Jorginho, Kante rival De Bruyne for UEFA Player of the Year

    Chelsea and Manchester City dominate UEFA’s Player and Manager of the Year nominations.

    Both Champions League finalists boast players which make up the final three places for the prestigious award, with Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Kevin De Bruyne set to battle it out for the honour.

    The three midfielders have been given the nod ahead of Lionel Messi and each received more votes, despite his sublime final season with Barcelona and his triumphs with the Argentina national team.

    The final three players were determined by a voting jury comprising 24 coaches of the teams which participated in this summer’s UEFA EURO 2020, along with 80 coaches of the clubs that participated in the group stages of last season’s Champions League (32) and UEFA Europa League (48).

    In addition, 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group were also permitted to cast their vote on the subject, one from each of UEFA’s member associations.

    For Manager of the Year, both Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola will be do battle for the big honour, along with Italy’s Euro 2020 winning manager Roberto Mancini.

  • Humble Kante deserves Ballon d’Or recognition – Terry

    Humble Kante deserves Ballon d’Or recognition – Terry

    Chelsea legend John Terry is adamant N’Golo Kante deserves Ballon d’Or recognition.

    Kante won the Champions League with Chelsea last season.

    Terry said on Stadium Astro: “Kanté plays for 11 players on his own. What he does, it goes so unnoticed. He is a very high level player.

    “I would love to see him win the Ballon d’Or or receive the appreciation that I think he deserves.

    “He’s such a humble man. He just does his job on the field and stays out of trouble. He has been a great asset for the football club and we are very lucky to have him at Chelsea, that’s for sure.”

  • The only problem I had with Kante, Lampard reveals

    The only problem I had with Kante, Lampard reveals

    Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has spoken about the only issue he had with N’Golo Kante.

    The French midfielder has shown his quality over the past few months, lifting Chelsea to the Champions League title and starring for his nation at Euro 2020.

    Lampard, who managed Kante at Chelsea before his sacking in the New Year, spoke about the 30-year-old all action midfielder while on pundit duty.

    “When I arrived at Chelsea he’d been off the back of playing so regularly for a few seasons because everyone relies on him so much, he’d had an injury that took him into my first season, we missed him a lot,” Lampard told BBC Sport.

    “You seriously miss N’Golo in big games because he’s a big-game player. Nobody will want to play against him because of the attributes he’s got.

    “In those big games, finals, tournament football, players like N’Golo are just priceless.

    “The main reason why he’s so good that he’s the best in the world at being a destructor. When I say destructor I’m talking about winning the ball back. To win the ball back with his anticipation, having the speed to get tight and close distances, his main attribute for me is destruction, leaving areas to win balls back.

    “An old-fashioned holding midfield player you’d say would sit in front of the back four, Makelele did it years ago for Chelsea so well.

    “But he has so much more to his game. When you see the distances he closes to get in front of people, that acceleration and speed, that is something special to him, it’s very unique.

    “I got asked it a lot [about playing him as a strict defensive midfielder], my feeling was that he had so many attributes that were more than just that, I was holding him back by saying, ‘please just sit there’

    “You have to allow N’Golo to travel with the ball, he can find passes I think people don’t give him credit for, his close control in tight areas is fantastic as well.

    “He can do multiple jobs at the same time. He makes people around him better, he helps everybody.

    “He’s exactly how you’d expect from the outside, nothing’s an act, he’s very humble, very quiet, he doesn’t want loads of conversation.

    “The problem I found with him more than anything was trying to hold him back in training because every day you train and you let him off the leash in an opposed session he does that, and you have to try to pull him back because he can just put that output into anything he does.

    “He’s incredible, he’s exactly what you see from the outside.”

  • Fabregas reveals story behind ‘N’Golinho’, nickname for Kante

    Fabregas reveals story behind ‘N’Golinho’, nickname for Kante

    Former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has recalled the Brazilian nickname N’Golo Kante was given at Chelsea.

    Fabregas says he and Eden Hazard coined N’Golo Kante’s nickname at Stamford Bridge because of his world-class skill.

    Kante was named “N’Golinho” by his teammates with the Blues, whom he signed for in 2016, when all three players were at the Premier League club together.

    Fabregas has since moved to Monaco, while Hazard plays for Real Madrid.

    Fabregas told the Telegraph: “It was Eden Hazard and I who gave N’Golo Kante his Brazilian nickname of N’Golinho when we were all at Chelsea together and I still use it to this day…

    “He’s seen as a defensive midfielder who makes all these tackles and recoveries and it’s fantastic, but sometimes we wouldn’t see him lose the ball.

    “He can run with the ball, break lines and dribble, and sometimes, just because it’s him, we don’t appreciate these things.

    “So that’s maybe why we started to call him N’Golinho. He’s one of the most complete midfielders in the world, for sure.”

  • I’ve never seen any special player like Kante – Azpilicueta

    I’ve never seen any special player like Kante – Azpilicueta

    Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta believes his Champions League success can benefit Spain.

    Azpilicueta says he’s learned from the experience of being underdogs with Chelsea and it’s something he can take into the Euros.

    He said, “Many times people give their opinion without seeing a single game. We weren’t going to compete because we were in ninth place. We had tough rivals and we won. In the case of Spain, it is in our power to change what has happened in recent tournaments. We are going to go game by game, playing at our house is special.”

    Azpilicueta was also asked about playing with N’Golo Kante at Chelsea.

    He added: “He is a very special person. I have not seen a player like him in my entire career. He covers a lot of ground, reaches the area … when we all run out of battery, he always has an extra.”

  • Mendy, Kante return to Chelsea squad ahead of Man City clash

    Mendy, Kante return to Chelsea squad ahead of Man City clash

    Edouard Mendy and N’Golo Kante returned to Chelsea training ahead of Champions League final against Manchester City.

    Mendy was replaced at half-time of the loss to Aston Villa last weekend after he injured his ribs.

    Kante missed the clash altogether with a hamstring problem.

    But in a boost to Thomas Tuchel’s side, both players will be available for the showpiece event in Istanbul on May 29.

  • Double boost for Chelsea as Kovacic, Kante return for FA Cup final

    Double boost for Chelsea as Kovacic, Kante return for FA Cup final

    Manager Thomas Tuchel says it is a “huge” FA Cup final boost for Chelsea to have Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante back fit to face Leicester City.

    Croatia star Kovacic has missed nine matches with a hamstring problem but is now ready to return for Saturday’s Wembley showdown.

    France World Cup-winner Kante was kept out of Wednesday’s 1-0 English Premier League (EPL) loss to Arsenal due to a painful Achilles issue.

    But now, the Blues boss Tuchel confirmed on Friday both midfield men are ready to take on the Foxes.

    “The whole group is available, Kova is with us again,” said Tuchel.

    “It’s huge because Mateo has everything that we need in midfield. He has experience, power, acceleration, deceleration, he can dribble the ball and beat players.

    “He’s fast, he has physical ability and he’s experienced in big games and in the Premier League.

    “When we missed N’Golo and Mateo in the same match we lacked a lot of quality, energy and experience.

    “Billy Gilmour did a huge job in both games but it’s not fair to compare him to these players because they have more experience and they are a step ahead in their development.

    “It’s what we need in the key moments of the season. It’s big news for us that Kova is back, he has a huge impact in the dressing room around big matches.”

    Kante formed a pivotal part of Leicester’s Premier League title win in 2015 and will now go up against his old club in Saturday’s Cup final.

    The linchpin midfielder has been back to his very best under the German, with the Chelsea head coach delighted to have one of his chief lieutenants back in top condition.

    “Yes, it’s huge,” said Tuchel. “We took the decision together, him, me and the medical team, to leave him out and give him this Arsenal match to rest and have treatment to his right Achilles.

    “It was pain management. It’s not a huge injury, it’s nothing you need to be afraid of getting bigger. It was just there, it was a bit annoying, just pain management and pain treatment.

    “So, he did all training sessions yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday) full, no complaints. He will start tomorrow (Saturday) and very likely finish the game for us.”

    Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday has left the Blues exposed in their quest for a top-four Premier League finish.

    Tuchel’s men will face Leicester City again on Tuesday in a crucial league encounter.

    The Blues boss accepts that the two quick-fire Foxes clashes could now prove the crux of the close to their season.

    “These are two finals and we don’t think about anything other than the two finals,” said Tuchel.

    “There’s the final for the Cup and the final for the top four.

    “We missed the chance against Arsenal to be decisive, have the decisive advantage. So, now we have to cope with it, and first of all show the reaction at Wembley to have the upper hand on Tuesday. And this is what we are up for.”

  • Pogba reveals Chelsea star as his toughest opponent

    Pogba reveals Chelsea star as his toughest opponent

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has named Chelsea counterpart N’Golo Kante and Real Madrid star Casemiro as his toughest opponents.

    Pogba and Kante won the World Cup together with France in 2018.

    Asked who has been his toughest opponent on the pitch in a Man Utd Q&A, Pogba said: “It’s tough against N’Golo Kante.

    “Casemiro. Casemiro is a hard one also. I can’t remember, they’re the first ones that come into mind, that I had. Yes, those are the first ones, maybe there are a few more but I don’t have the names now.”