N’Golo Kanté looks like he will be available for the game against Manchester United on Sunday.
According to Antonio Conte, Kanté’s progress from injury is going well. Having him available for the United game would be huge because of the defensive solidity he provides. The French midfielder operates as a brilliant defensive screen which limits the opposition’s ability to play through the middle. Although, he is also competent on the ball which is sometimes overlooked.
His return is crucial for this match because it reduces the threat of United’s counter-attacks. José Mourinho will prioritise keeping his team’s defensive shape and being reactive. Therefore, their main threats will be on the counter and set-pieces.
How does his return affect the team?
Without Kanté, Chelsea lacked solidity due to the midfield not being strong which left the defence exposed. The match against Roma was a prime example of this as the Italians were able to play through and around the midfield. Chelsea’s centre-backs exacerbated this by making multiple defensive mistakes. Recent form signifies this because they have only kept one clean sheet in the last eight games.
A major reason for their midfield issues is that they were playing a two-man midfield with Cesc Fàbregas being one of the midfielders. His defensive ability isn’t his strong suit, and his positional indiscipline can leave Chelsea exposed. Tiémoué Bakayoko is a talented box-to-box midfielder, but he is unable to replicate Kanté’s ability to shut down the opposition. Although, he does form an excellent partnership with Kanté. Comparisons between him and Nemanja Matić, who he replaced, often fail to note the importance of this.
Kanté’s return changes the whole context of the match. Both teams are hard to break down; they are also similar in that they thrive on absorbing opposition pressure and then break on them. Therefore, this is likely to be a reactive game with moments of individual brilliance being key. Chelsea have the best difference-maker of either team in Eden Hazard, and with Kanté they have the necessary defensive presence.
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Conte has more flexibility with the return of the French midfielder because he can opt for either a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3. Playing in a 3-5-2 would give them greater control in midfield because Fàbregas could act as a deep-lying playmaker. Although, a 3-4-3 would give them a greater threat on the break, but less innovation to break down a packed defence. Regardless of the team setup, Chelsea benefit significantly from the return of Kanté.