Frank Lampard oulines N’Golo Kante’s role in Chelsea FC team
Chelsea FC manager Frank Lampard explains how he intends to deploy N'Golo Kante this season
Frank Lampard says that he doesn’t intend to limit N’Golo Kante to a fixed position in the Chelsea FC midfield this season.
The France international was played out of position in a more advanced role in the Chelsea FC team under Maurizio Sarri last term.
Lampard’s predecessor used Kante in an unfamiliar position to accommodate defensive midfielder Jorginho in his starting XI.
Unsurprisingly, the tactical move attracted a lot of criticism given Kante’s performances in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons for Leicester and Chelsea FC.
Indeed, Kante had established himself as the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League as the French star won back-to-back Premier League titles with different teams.
Sarri’s replacement Lampard started Kante in a more attacking role in Chelsea FC’s penalty shootout loss to Liverpool FC in the Uefa Super Cup on Wednesday night.
Quizzed about his plans for Kante, Lampard refused to tie down Kante to one position or role in his Chelsea FC team.
“Well, in midfield obviously. I think it’s been a discussion that’s probably been over-talked at times last year and that was me watching it from the outside,” Lampard is quoted as saying by Metro.
“But when I think of N’Golo Kante, the important thing for me – and all my midfield – is that we have a flexibility and nobody is pinned down to an absolute structure.
“I think we saw elements of that against Liverpool where the players have the freedom to use their attributes.
“So the idea that he wins the ball probably as well as anyone in world football doesn’t mean he has to sit in front of the back four and do that.
“He also has too much in his game, to drive forward with the ball, to leave midfield areas to win the ball back high up the pitch. So that’s what I want to give him the freedom to do.”
Chelsea FC will be looking to record their first competitive victory under Lampard when the Blues welcome Leicester City to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues lost 4-0 to bitter rivals Manchester United last weekend despite a decent first-half performance at Old Trafford.
Liverpool FC beat Chelsea FC to win the Uefa Super Cup in mid-week.
