Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has expressed his happiness following arguably his most polished performance against former employers Leicester City led to a Man of the Match award.
The Frenchman controversially left the Foxes in the summer having played a pivotal role in helping Claudio Ranieri's side win the Premier League and was on hand to inflict misery on his former teammates at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Kante portrayed shades of the relentless, ball-winning extraordinaire from last year, dominating the midfield area during a comfortable 3-0 for Antonio Conte's Blues - and said he was pleased to have contributed so meaningfully to a crucial three points.
"Getting man of the match was good for me but winning and playing well as a team was more important," he toldChelsea's official website.
"I had a formidable season at Leicester and so it was a special match for me. Before the game I spoke to my old teammates, but I am a Chelsea player now and once it started it was just another game. I wanted to help my team get the three points. That's what we did."
"We needed the victory but to score three goals too is really good for our confidence. I am so happy with the win."
Conte's change to a three-defender system - something that worked beautifully for the Italian during his time in charge of Juventus - has paid dividends and Kante offered some insight into how the different form of tactics have inspired a surge in confidence.
"The new system is working well. We have been better with and without the ball, and we have conceded fewer chances.
"Personally I like the system too. My job in a defensive central midfield position is to cut off attacks against us, but it has been a bit different in the past two games as I have been able to get forward a bit myself."