Ebetween 2016 and 2021, N’Golo Kanté – The Best Of N’Golo Kanté (Paris, France, 1991) he reached the pinnacle of football. He won the Premier League twice (with Leicester and Chelsea), the Champions League, the Europa League and the World Cup. He was almost unanimously considered one of the best midfielders in the world and dominated the pitch like few others. However, after winning the European Cup in Porto against City, his fall into hell began.
A hernia, knee problems, lack of continuity and a Tuchel who began to use it less. This course, the auction. A muscle injury that kept him out for almost 200 days (30 games out) and made him miss the World Cup in Qatar 2022 with France. Now, after spending months on the canvas, he gets up and returns for the crucial moment of the season: he will be at the Bernabéu and, as in 2021, he wants to replicate the feat of starring in some beastly months that will lead them to be European champions.
When you get injured, you feel like you’re not giving your best to the club or your teammates
“When you get injured, you feel like you’re not giving the best to the club or to your teammates. You can learn from these times to appreciate more when you’re fit, when you can play and train with your teammates,” Kanté said. in 2021, before experiencing what would be a terrible season. This course, the Frenchman has barely played 277 minutes… and 102 of them have been recently (ante Aston Villa y Liverpool).
The Frenchman, recovered in time for the Champions League quarterfinals, has taken it easy from the shadows. He did not want to hasten his return: “I have learned that when you are not ready you should take more time because that will help the team more”, he declared a long time ago. Without going any further, his hamstring injury forced him to give up the 2022 World Cup.
I have learned that when you are not ready you should take more time because that will help the team more
‘Signing’ for the Bernabéu
But Kanté arrives on time. Although he did not play against Wolves last weekend (nor was he called up), He already wore the captain’s armband in the previous match against Liverpool. His first start since August 14, 2022. “There are no worries with N’Golo. We’re fine with it, we’re handling it. He’s been gone a long time. We have a way of handling it.”Lampard declared last weekend, making it clear that they were managing his playing time.
No worries with N’Golo. We’re cool with it, we’re handling it
And it is that a footballer who has been months without playing must take care of his return. To be as prepared as possible for the Champions League, the Frenchman (and Chelsea) must ‘give up’ other games. Playing every three days is not something N’Golo can afford right now.
Something that, of course, contrasts with his past: “70% of the Earth is bathed by water. Everything else is covered by N’Golo Kanté”chanted the Leicester fans that historic season that they won the Premier. The footballer with the greatest deployment on a pitch in the last decade, possibly.
This recovery (and management) It is somewhat reminiscent of that of 2021 with Tuchel. Kanté alternated discomfort with rest days… and exhibitions in the Champions League. The double match in the semifinals against Real Madrid (of a stellar level) and the MVP of the Porto final against City, where he left another recital although the winning goal was from Havertz. Now, N’Golo returns as the latest ‘signing’ of Todd Boehly’s millionaire Chelsea.
