Premier League 2018-19: 3 Reasons why Chelsea are out of title race in the Premier League

#2 N'olo Kante not playing in his preferred position

N'Golo Kante

Sarri has played N’Golo Kante in a much-advanced role since the beginning of the season. This has resulted in some goals for Kante, but his inadequate passing skills have come to the fore too. Jorginho has been playing as a defensive midfielder but is yet to deliver the kind of performances which can justify Kante sacrificing his preferred position.

In the match against Tottenham Hotspur that Chelsea lost 1-3, Jorginho found the high press of Dele Alli and Harry Kane too difficult to handle. Moreover, Kante remains one of Chelsea's better players and should not be made to play out of his preferred position.

If Kante plays as the defensive midfielder, Chelsea would be able to play another creative central midfielder in the shape of Ross Barkley in their starting line-up. Barkley has been consistently playing second fiddle to Matteo Kovacic, who has not been that great for Chelsea either.

Chelsea have genuinely lacked a good passer or two in the midfield and suffered to some extent because of the stubbornness and rigidity shown by the team management in this regard. It would make more sense to drop Jorginho, play Kante as a holding midfielder and Barkley & Kovacic as the two central midfielders.