Kante’s so good he turns average players into champs and makes Chelsea the garden of Eden
N’GOLO KANTE deserves to win Footballer of the Year by a country mile, and it would be a travesty if he doesn’t.
Anyone with lingering doubts about Kante’s influence on Leicester winning the title last year has surely had them dispelled by seeing his influence on Chelsea’s procession this season.
Before Christmas, I was ridiculed on social media for saying we should hand over the trophy to Antonio Conte because Chelsea were not going to be caught.
Turning into the home straight – I am composing this column from the Cheltenham festival, so please forgive the horse racing analogy – they are no closer to being caught, and for me Kante is the biggest single factor in their march towards the title.
In the past, Footballer of the Year awards have often gone to players with a ‘wow’ factor – but in 2017, it would be a huge shock if the gong didn’t go to the best mopping-up act in the world.
Kante should become the first player to win the Premier League in consecutive seasons with two different clubs – and has made two d e f e n c e s look almost impenetrable in the process. At Leicester, he was such a reliable minder for Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs they kept 12 clean sheets in 18 games before the title was won.
No disrespect, but he helped to make champions out of average players. He also helped Danny Drinkwater to win three England caps, which he probably deserved, although he has not been as effective without his old sidekick this season. And at Chelsea, Conte’s three central defenders and two wing-backs have flourished with Kante as bodyguard. Victor Moses had been doing the rounds on loan; Marcos Alonso didn’t pull up any trees at Bolton or Sunderland but he’s looked a class act this season; Cesar Azpilicueta has been transformed from a full-back into a centre-half like flicking a switch; Gary Cahill had probably never played in a back three in his life until Antonio changed his system six months ago; and David Luiz, who was always good value for a mistake, has been a revelation.
Individually, they are all good players. But as a collective, with Kante minding the shop, they have become greater than the sum of their parts. Nemanja Matic has enjoyed a new lease of life in midfield, too.
There is more than a touch of Claude Makelele about the way Kante screens his defence, but it is his mobility which sets him apart.
If the opposition play with a target man, he is always on hand to help sweep up the knockdowns and loose balls.
If they play with a No.10, he patrols the pockets of space between the lines. And he brings such energy to the role.
Kante is never going to be a prolific goalscorer, but his bodyguard act is so complete he gives attacking players a licence to prosper.
Just as Makelele gave Frank Lampard scope to bomb forward and plunder so many goals from midfield for Chelsea in Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge, Eden Hazard (left) has been back to his best since Kante’s arrival.
It reminds me of the way Riyad Mahrez was all twinkling feet, freed from the shackles of defensive duties at Leicester last season when Kante had his back.
On the evidence of his two seasons in English football, Chelsea got him on the cheap at £30million. He is the best seek-and-destroy midfield player in the world.
The PFA fraternity will soon be casting their votes for Player of the Year. I know where the first cross should go on their ballot papers.