Explained: N’Golo Kante’s new role in Sarri’s Chelsea XI

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It didn’t seem possible, but Chelsea star N’Golo Kante appears to be on the verge of adding another string to his bow this season.

The midfielder has enjoyed an extraordinary rise in stature since joining Leicester City in the summer 0f 2015, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the World Cup in the space of three years.

Kante is perhaps the most heralded defensive-minded footballer in world football right now.

In fact, the World Cup winner has made 100+ tackles in every top-flight league season he has played, despite the number decreasing year on year.

But the arrival of Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has given the Frenchman licence to roam forward.

Much of this has to do with the signing of Jorginho, who Sarri has employed in the exact role to the one he fulfiled at Napoli.

With Jorginho sitting deep in a three-man midfield, Chelsea’s other midfielder’s – Kante and Ross Barkley started against Arsenal – are given permission to make runs beyond lone striker Alvaro Morata, something Kante has done multiple times already this term.

Indeed, the 27-year-old followed up his goalscoring display against Huddersfield Town with another surprisingly attacking performance against Arsenal.

Though he wasn’t on the scoresheet in Chelsea’s 3-2 victory, Kante attempted three shots – that’s a huge increase on his average of 0.75 per 90 minutes from last season.

He also created four chances – the most on the pitch – and had five touches in the opposition box. Again, Kante’s averages per 90 minutes from last season in those areas – 1.23 and 0.57 respectively – suddenly pale into insignificance.

So what about Kante’s role has changed since Sarri replaced Antonio Conte over the summer?

Kante is essentially playing the role Brazilian midfielder Allan prospered in under Sarri at Napoli as a right-sided central midfielder.

Jorginho, then, takes up the deepest-lying position, permitting Kante and Barkley – or potentially Real Madrid loanee Mateo Kovacic in the future, or even Ruben Loftus-Cheek – to pose a threat in the final third.

Despite getting into more advanced positions, the threat Kante is able to pose isn’t merely an attacking one. He is also tasked with pressing high up the pitch, which allows Chelsea to win the ball closer to the opposition goal.

That said, Kante’s defensive contribution has, for now, suffered a dip. Against Arsenal he made just one interception, down from his 2.55 average per 90 minutes in 2017/18.

He did, however, make three tackles, close to his 2017/18 average of 3.39, proving a “defensive” midfielder doesn’t have to do all of his work right in front of his own team’s back four.

For example, the aforementioned Allan made the joint-most tackles in Serie A last season. Sarri’s right-sided midfield general is expected to lead the press and rob the opposition more often than the two players beside him, something Kante is already a proven master of.

After Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Huddersfield on the opening weekend, during which he opened the scoring for the visitors, Kante admitted he is still adapting to his new role.

“It’s a new manager and a new system, I play a little bit more forward,” he told beIN Sports. “I try to find the striker, to be more offensive, to cause problems for the opponents.

“I need to adapt in this role and I will give my best in this position for the team and I hope we can keep doing good things for the future.”

Of course, there is a chance Kante will return to a solely defensive role, whether that’s because of an injury to Jorginho or if the balance of the team isn’t working long-term.

Kante’s goal against Huddersfield may end up being his only strike of the season; he has, after all, found the net just once in each of his previous three Premier League campaigns.

But the midfielder’s willingness to adapt, try new things and thrive in a new role could invaluably aid Chelsea’s pursuit of success to no end this term.

It could also cement Kante’s claim of being one of the best midfielders in the world, full stop, with no need for the ‘defensive’ prefix.

The post Explained: N’Golo Kante’s new role in Sarri’s Chelsea XI appeared first on Squawka News.



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