I remember standing with Leicester City's coaches on the final day of the 2015-16 season after they had won the title and asking about their use of N'Golo Kante in midfield.
They told me: 'We play Kante on the left, then Danny Drinkwater in the middle, then Kante on the right!' That is what he did for them and that is what he is doing for Chelsea, too. He is perpetual motion.
Lots of people seemed to get it in their heads that his time at Leicester was spent sat deep and central in front of the defence but that is a myth. He was left, right, central, wherever you want him. Maurizio Sarri grew frustrated last season with the way every man and his dog was criticising his use of Kante.
'He's the best defensive midfielder in the world and you're using him out of position,' he was told, over and over. Sarri got so tired of this, he actually went out of his way to invite us at Sky to their training ground.
He wanted to take the time to explain his tactics and set-up, and it was especially fascinating to hear him talk about Kante. He felt very strongly about using the Frenchman to the side of Jorginho and told me Leicester used him the same way.
The critics continued to have a go, of course, and fans started to chant 'you don't know what you're doing' at him. 'Sarri-ball' wound up bursting and he left the club. But now, Frank Lampard is in charge and using Kante in the same way.
I was at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening and the 28-year-old was Chelsea's best player. He showed his experience and proved why he is more than just your garden-variety defensive midfielder.
Lampard had a big decision to make with Mason Mount and he dropped the 20-year-old to the substitutes' bench. It turned out to be the right call. Chelsea's opener involved all three of their midfielders.
A little one-two between Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho, a ball over the top for Kante and bang, goal. Chelsea finished with 53.3 per cent possession, too, and that is unheard of against City.
The last time Pep Guardiola's team did not have the majority of the ball was when Liverpool visited the Etihad last January, when Jurgen Klopp's side managed 50.4 per cent. Chelsea went on to lose 2-1 but there were a lot of positives for Lampard to take from this.
One of them is Kante, who now has three Premier League goals in six games. He is making a mockery of the idea that he is nothing more than a very good defensive midfielder.
Liverpool's great threat is that their forwards bring the chaos factor, just as Manchester United used to. You'd look at Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Dwight Yorke and you feared one could score at any moment.
If the ball was bouncing in the box someone would be there to finish — like Roberto Firmino did at Palace.
Everton had Ronald Koeman, who came in with expansive ideas. Then they had Sam Allardyce, known as more of a pragmatic manager. They then got Marco Silva, who is maybe something in between. It feels like they take one step forward then two back. They lack direction and you can understand why fans are frustrated.
Golden oldie Vardy can land top prize
Jamie Vardy leads the scoring charts and it looks like Sergio Aguero could be sidelined for a while, too. Ahead of turning 33 in January, the Leicester man is in such a good position to become the Premier League's oldest Golden Boot winner.
The oldest to date was Didier Drogba in 2010 — the Chelsea man was 32 years and 59 days when he scored his last goal that season. The next oldest after that was Nicolas Anelka in 2009 — he was 30 years and 71 days when he got his last goal.
Vardy has 12 to his name at the moment and is flying under Brendan Rodgers. He has so many men behind him who know how to supply him, from James Maddison to Demarai Gray to Harvey Barnes to Ayoze Perez. Vardy missed out on the Golden Boot in 2015-16, when Harry Kane got 25 goals to his 24. Maybe this could be his year.
If I was a decision maker at Arsenal, I'd go for Mauricio Pochettino in a heartbeat. I'm not sure I believe Poch would let his time with Tottenham stop him from taking over.
Maybe the reason Spurs decided to go for Jose Mourinho so suddenly was they felt they could not hang around, because their north London rivals might be searching for a new boss soon.
Unai Emery is under big, big pressure. I have some sympathy for him but he looks a beaten man.
We've got to give Wolves credit. Winning at Bournemouth left them sitting fifth on Saturday. They have gone about their business while also sitting on the brink of qualifying for the next round of the Europa League.
After failing to win their first six Premier League games, plenty feared the worst. Boss Nuno Espirito Santo was perhaps a little worried, too. But they are in a brilliant position now.
Wukabensuz
0
After praising kante, you did not put him in your team of the week, Total rubbish
niadryz
1
best player kante
Sowbdnpty
1
we need defenders
Cacbelnosy
2
scholes comment is full of jealous about Lampard and Chelsea,i always follow his comment and he always want to criticize Chelsea and want to play down that we aren't good enough,is the same guy at the beginning of the season he said we can't be top 4 but i never see him criticizing Manchester United the way he criticizes Chelsea,He should mind his own business and keep his jealous to himself,he feel bad to see Chelsea doing well but Manchester United failed,he can't complement good things about Chelsea or Lampard as other pundits do,Chelsea is in progress
yawcenp
0
Lampard let kante back to DM so that the goals conceding can stop. Jorginho can’t protect the defense. He can’t winning ball, interceptions, tackles and no ability
Jorginho can’t protect our back four. His style doesn’t suit epl. When you play Jorginho in DM it you’re going to conceding more goals because what he can is one touch passing. But as a DM you to win balls, interceptions, tackles and ability too.
yawcenp
0
Thank you.
vuobdln
1
I agree with the analysis about Kante and his world class values. Lampard’s Chelsea is missing “something” as Paul Scholes says and that is “experience” and “maturity” that comes with time. We are on the right direction. Our players should become more vigilant about losing ball so easily and recovering the ball as fast as possible.
Yorokiri
0
Pep knock the Lamps out of Lampard...
Zambia4813878
0
Very nervous Centre Backs,not able to move the ball forward. The more reason why they keep on overplaying the ball to Kepa and make defensive errors in the process. Rudiger badly missed at the moment.
Pebcdilsty
2
up Chelsea up Chelsea it's a sad news that we dominated City and lose the match our major problems is central defence had it been that Rudiga is there it will not be like this look out what is defence when strikers cover the space for passing the central defender will now carry ball and move through the middle space and fires shot which might be goal or corner and that is how Rudiga play but Zuma and Tomori are afraid to move instead they will be doing pass or find a way to give the goal keeper that we don't have
binbdklnru
0
we lost to Man city because we failed to take our chances in first half and Man city were able to cut supply from Kovacic and Jorjinho thereby paralysing the midfield. Our defense were nervous and shaky. Their long passes which could have caught city napping were far from being accurate. I will like to see Azipiliqueta play LB while James play from RB tentatively until we are able to buy. William needs to cut too many touches and be more focus and accurate. As for Kante, he's just coming from injury ,we have not seen his best. He did just fine, in respectful of where he's played.
nice comment !
Pekcilnpru
5
we lost to Man city because we failed to take our chances in first half and Man city were able to cut supply from Kovacic and Jorjinho thereby paralysing the midfield. Our defense were nervous and shaky. Their long passes which could have caught city napping were far from being accurate. I will like to see Azipiliqueta play LB while James play from RB tentatively until we are able to buy. William needs to cut too many touches and be more focus and accurate. As for Kante, he's just coming from injury ,we have not seen his best. He did just fine, in respectful of where he's played.
Ibrahim_H
2
Fact: Kanté still covers 30% of the earth.
vezclnpsz
1
SolomonEscober
0
CB is the problem
SKY_GH
0
Has Kante been booked of infringement before .. ? I was surprised after he was interviewed after Sarri and he confirmed he was OK playing on the wings besides it gave the opportunity to explore no wonder he had the most goals with sarri with Kante*s position I think the CB Is the best place even thou he can play all positions including the goal post Kente is an inspirational player
Zambia4813878
2
The player we are badly missing right now is Rudiger,this is justifiably so having shipped in 19 goals so far.Something Lamps needs to fix our CBs.As for Lamps himself,he must be making his substitutes quicker than he doing at present.The other weak point is our left side,highlighted by City on Saturday.We need to buy once the ban is lifted to match the levels of L/pool or City.As for super Kante,he will always polarize opinion because the man is hugely talented:Retrospectively,Sarri was right after all.Kante can literally play almost everywhere! Kante here,Kante there!What an asset he is.We blessed to have.
Jabouty
0
Lampards way of talking to players even rough times is good.His approaches to.mistakes allows players to give their best.When we missed penalty against Liverpool.
Actually it’s sarri talk
Kamikazeee
2
Kante is very good but we can’t rely on him alone. Kovacic is doing well but we need to put more effort in terms with of big matches. We can fight for draw if not win. It will enhance our skill and improve our confidence. We play very well against city but lose. B/c we have the confidence that we will loose away. Somethings we need to change style of play in. Oder yo achieve our aim.
naedeimosy
0
Lampard let kante back to DM so that the goals conceding can stop. Jorginho can’t protect the defense. He can’t winning ball, interceptions, tackles and no ability
you are right Bro,cause the 2 central defenders are still inexperienced,they need a strong and intelligent dm to cover them,they are conceding to many goals
kekcelnpy
0
Lampards way of talking to players even rough times is good.His approaches to.mistakes allows players to give their best.When we missed penalty against Liverpool.
yodailmnu
1
Nice piece of writing!
yawcenp
1
Lampard let kante back to DM so that the goals conceding can stop. Jorginho can’t protect the defense. He can’t winning ball, interceptions, tackles and no ability
Dedicated111
1
Nice piece of writing!
Noble_jr
17
N’Golo Kante at age 6 is the same Kante at age 28 .
Noble_jr
2
Did you know ? Google Assistant seeks Assistance from Lampard
Noble_jr
4
Lampard is a Genius 🔥🔥