Not the same without Kante

YOU can argue whether one player makes all the difference to a team – but N’Golo Kante’s absence is proving to be a major blow for Antonio Conte’s side.

The Footballer of the Year is set to be missing for another three weeks with a hamstring injury and it could not have come at a worse time for the Premier League champions.

Two consecutive defeats in the Premier League and a poor defensive display against Roma has once again shown the lack of depth in the squad.

Chelsea are simply not the same team without their influential midfielder and you can be sure that he would have not allowed the Blues to crumble and somehow allow Roma a route back. Former Leicester hero Kante (below) is the heartbeat of the midfield and was instrumental in them winning the title last term. Conte does not have a player who can step into his shoes and just maybe the Chelsea hierarchy should have listened to him during the summer when he wanted to bring in more quality to the squad. Eden Hazard may have salvaged a point, but Chelsea should have been celebrating their third consecutive victory in the Champions League.