It really is hard to think of any other player that had such a massive impact on the Premier League in such a short space of time as Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante did during his first two seasons in the English top-flight.
Kante joined Leicester from French second division side Caen in the summer of 2015. The France international’s super human midfield performances would, of course, inspire The Foxes to the biggest upset in footballing history when they lifted the Premier League trophy in his first and only season at the King Power.
His sensational displays for Leicester soon attracted the interest of Chelsea who he joined for £30 million in 2016. Once again the diminutive midfielder would play an integral role in helping his new side to the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge before going to lift the World Cup with Les Blues.
While the Premier League winners medals may have dried up over the last few of seasons, on his day, Kante remains a true tour de force in the centre of the park. With that in mind, we’ve decided to take a look at some of the best quotes about the unassuming superstar…
“This player Kante, he was running so hard that I thought he must have a pack full of batteries hidden in his shorts. He never stopped running in training. I tell him: ‘One day, I’m going to see you cross the ball, and then finish the cross with a header yourself.’ He’s unbelievable.” Claudio Ranieri.
“I don’t want N’Golo Kante to be compared with me. Kante can be Kante. I want him to be more than me, but I love to watch him play because you can see in him the joy. I love the kind of player like that, who plays for the team. Sometimes you see a team with big players, but for me whenever a team is winning it is because of spirit.” Claude Makelele.
“I was at the Chelsea training ground last week to see Eden Hazard and noticed Kante wandering back to the changing rooms. So I went over to him and stood in front of him. And I poked him in the chest. I had to, just to check if he was real!” Thierry Henry.
“His impact has been absolutely incredible. When you watch him in games he’s infectious. He’s all over the pitch.” Gary Neville.
“I’d say Kante is the best central midfielder in world football, I really would.” Frank Lampard.
“N’Golo Kante obviously made a huge difference with no perceptible change in his levels of fitness, tackling quality or general ability after a month long lay-off. It adds to the theory he may in fact not be altogether built like the rest of us human beings.” Pat Nevin.
“To be the man mountain that he is, and the size he is, says a lot about him.” David Beckham.
“Kante is extraordinary. He brings a lot of quantity, OK, but what quality too.” Antonio Conte.
“He is a fantastic player. He is a like a rat, he goes everywhere. He has a top mentality and is a top guy.” Eden Hazard.
“Everybody knows that N’Golo Kante can run for 11 players – that’s his best quality…He’s everywhere!” Paul Pogba.
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