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What's the story?
N'Golo Kante has revealed that he likes his new position and manager Maurizio Sarri has given him the confidence to excel in that role, according to Chelsea's official website.
Maurizio Sarri has preferred summer signing Jorginho at the center of his midfield and has shifted Kante to the right side of Chelsea's three-man midfield.
Kante is regarded as one of the leading defensive midfielders, winning the World Cup and two Premier League titles in the last three seasons, but Sarri believes that he lacks the specific skillets to play the holding role in his system.
In case you didn't know...
Kante signed a new deal with Chelsea last month, extending his stay at Stamford Bridge by another 5 years.
With a huge weekly wage of £290,000, he became the highest paid Chelsea player ahead of Eden Hazard.
Sarri had explained last week why Kante wasn't a player fit for the central midfield role in his 'Sarri-ball' system. He spoke at a press conference ahead of their Europa League fixture against PAOK: (Via The Telegraph)
“I think, as you know, I want to play a central midfielder as a very technical player, a Jorginho or [Cesc] Fabregas.”
“I don’t want Kante in this position.”
With a goal and two assists in just 14 games, Kante has already been involved in more goals this season than the last one, on account of his positional change.
The heart of the matter...
N'Golo Kante has been forced to play on the right side of Chelsea's midfield, with Jorginho occupying his natural central, deep-lying midfield role.
Pundits have argued that this change in position is not allowing the French star to play his natural game and he should be shifted back to his original position.
But, the midfielder was optimistic about his new role and said that he wants to succeed in that position. He told Chelsea's official website:
"I like this position. The manager has given me the confidence to play this position since the beginning of the season. I am trying to do my best and I will get better at it, and I hope to have success in it this year."
There had been plenty of media talk in the build-up to Chelsea's fixture against Fulham about Kante’s position on the right, but the Frenchman proved that he can play wherever his manager wants him to, assisting Pedro's opener.
The midfielder stole possession off Jean Michael Seri inside four minutes, sprinted into the opposition half and set up Pedro for the finish.
What's next?
Sarri had already made it clear that Kante won't be going back to his central midfield role, so he must now adapt to his new position.
Chelsea head to the historical Molineux Stadium to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next Premier League fixture.
