N'Golo Kante Explains the Biggest Difference Between Chelsea and His Previous Clubs
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has revealed a key difference between the Stamford Bridge club and the teams with which he has previously played for during his whirlwind career - having more possession and being in control of the ball.
Kante arrived in west London in the summer from a Leicester side used to playing on the counter attack, while he had experienced similar at small club Caen in France before that. Things are quite different at Chelsea but the £32m man is enjoying it.
"I think Chelsea is different from my previous clubs because when I played in Caen and Leicester, we didn't have the ball as much and we played more on the counter-attack," he told Chelsea magazine.
"It's better to have the ball than to run most of the time behind the ball. We defend like a team and when it's my task to do the pressing and to work hard to win possession, I have to do it," he added.
"That's what I try to do - work hard to win the ball when we haven't got it and to keep possession or create a chance when we have the ball."
The 2015 champions aren't shy about blowing their own trumpet when it comes to the diminutive Frenchman - 'Our purchase of Kante from Leicester City is widely regarded as one of the most astute pieces of business conducted by any side in this year' - but it's not without justification.
After his crucial contributions to Leicester's Premier League title winning team, Kante has been just as much of a revelation in Chelsea's midfield where he is currently enjoying an excellent partnership with a resurgent Nemanja Matic.
"He's a good player," Kante said of the Serbian.
"In training we have done a lot of work together, so in the game we can understand each other. When he goes forward, I stay back. When I go forward, he stays back. When you play together, it's good to understand each other and I think it is a good partnership."
To continue the discussion on Twitter follow @jamiespencer155