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Tag: N’Golo Kante

  • Chelsea’s Kante out of Europa semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt

    Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante will miss the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, manager Maurizio Sarri said on Wednesday.

    He also faces a further two weeks out with a hamstring problem.

    France international Kante left the field early in the first half of last Sunday’s 3-0 English Premier League (EPL) win over Watford.

    Sarri later said after the game that the decision not to rest the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner was a mistake.

    Chelsea, who drew the first leg at Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1, are hopeful the 28-year-old can feature if they reach the final of Europe’s second-tier club competition on May 29.

    “He had a problem with his hamstring. It is not very serious but he needs to rest for a couple of weeks,” Sarri told reporters.

    “We can try to recover him for only the final match if we get there. I’m not sure if he can, but we can try.”

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who could fill in for Kante again, said Chelsea will not take their foot off the gas in spite of sealing a top-four league finish and Champions League qualification.

    “We won’t be relaxed tomorrow (Thursday), and we have the Champions League qualification. But we have the chance to win a trophy and that will be stupid to go into the match in a relaxed manner,” Loftus-Cheek said.

    Sarri echoed the views of the England international but warned his players of the danger posed by the German side.

    “I think we have reached the target of the club, so we’re very happy. We have to play in another competition. We have to reach the final and try to win,” the Italian added.

    “It’s not easy because we have to play a dangerous team as we saw in the first leg. They’re dynamic and aggressive and when they can find spaces, it’s a dangerous match.

    “You have to play a semi-final against a strong team and it’s difficult to be favourite. I’m sure tomorrow (Thursday) they can play at their best… we need to be careful.”

    Reuters/NAN

     

     

     

  • Chelsea hits cloud 9 after meeting main man N’Golo Kante

     

    A Chelsea supporter was overcome with emotion as she got the chance to meet her favourite player, N’Golo Kante, after the team’s training session on Thursday.

    The club’s latest Community Day saw a number of fans invited to come and watch their heroes get put through their paces before meeting them afterwards for pictures and autographs.

    And Telamsile Dlamini, referred to the Blues by the Willow Foundation – the only national charity working with seriously ill young adults to fulfill uplifting and unforgettable Special Days – was blown away by the experience.

    Chelsea took to Twitter to share a video of the 21-year-old wiping away a tear as she watched on at the Cobham Training Centre before she was greeted by French midfielder Kante, who surprised her with a signed Chelsea shirt. 

    Speaking over the clip, the young Blues fan admitted she didn’t believe such a day would be possible when her social worker asked her what she would most like to do.

    ‘That moment I stepped foot on that training section where we were waiting,’ she reflected. ‘I can’t believe that I’m here, no, no, it’s not me that is here it’s just. No way, no way, I’m not here, it’s not me, it’s just not me. But actually, it was me.

    ‘Today was very special because I got to meet my favourite football player, N’Golo Kante,’

    ‘It was just wonderful and I’m pretty sure my siblings enjoyed it just as much as I did. It’s been truly amazing!’

    Another player to spend time with the special visitors was midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who said: ‘It’s great to take some time out and give back to the community – it’s very important to make sure we do these things.

    ‘You just have to look at the smiles on the children’s face to see how much it means to them.

  • UEFA’s Fans’ Team of the Year: van Dijk, Hazard, Kante make list

     

    Premier League stars N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard and Virgil van Dijk have been voted into UEFA’s Fans’ Team of the Year 2018.

    Kante and van Dijk are making their debuts in the prestigious team, while Hazard is selected for the second successive season. Fans were able to vote online for their favourite players to be selected for the team from a 50-man shortlist.

    Liverpool centre-back van Dijk was the only non-Real Madrid player in the back four, with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and left-back Marcelo also named – the latter for a third time.

    In goal is Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, earning a 30% vote share to beat the likes of Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, Keylor Navas and Hugo Lloris to the No 1 shirt.

    Kante, with 53% of votes, is joined in a midfield three by Ballon D’Or winner Luka Modric of Real Madrid and Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard.

    With 115,440 votes, World Cup finalist Modric earned more votes than any other player in the team.

    Predictably, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo slot into the front three, but Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid Kylian Mbappe takes the final spot ahead of Neymar.

    Ronaldo extends his own record in making his 13th UEFA Team of the Year, while Messi joins him in double figures with a 10th selection.

    Premier League stars including John Stones, Paul Pogba, James Milner, Kevin De Bruyne, Harry Kane, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah all missed out on a place in the team.

    Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale was also denied a spot, having twice featured before in 2011 and 2013.

    However, his club is still the best-represented with four players, while Barcelona and Chelsea both have two and Liverpool, PSG and Juventus boasting one apiece.

    The award has been running since 2001, with 1.8million people voting to decide the 2018 team.

  • Kante strike earns Chelsea slim win at Crystal Palace

    Chelsea kept up their pursuit of the top three clubs in the 2018/2019 English Premier League with a 1-0 win away to London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday.

    But it was all thanks to a strike by N’Golo Kante early in the second half, as Chelsea had to work hard to break down Crystal Palace.

    Crystal Palace had taken seven points in their previous three matches, including a shock win over defending champions Manchester City, but seemed content to allow their visitors most of the possession.

    After a sterile first 35 minutes, Willian smacked the post with a swinging free-kick and Ross Barkley hit the same upright soon afterwards with an acrobatic overhead effort.

    Kante broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when his darting run into the Crystal Palace penalty area was spotted by defender David Luiz.

    The Brazilian duly put the France 2018 FIFA World Cup winner on to score from close range.

    Crystal Palace substitute Connor Wickham spurned the hosts’ best chance of the game when he toe-punted a shot over the bar in the dying minutes.

    Chelsea remain in fourth place in the English Premier League, one point behind Manchester City — who were playing later on Sunday.

    They are two points adrift of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but 11 behind leaders Liverpool, while Crystal Palace remain in 14th spot.

    The win also gave Chelsea an important five-point cushion over Arsenal, their nearest challengers for the fourth UEFA Champions League spot who were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool on Saturday.

    “It is never easy to play here or control it here, especially when they (Crystal Palace) play long balls, but we did well.

    “We could have scored early but they also did a great match defensively, which is why it was so difficult,” Chelsea’s Luiz told reporters.

    Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud had two goals ruled out for offside and then was forced off injured.

    Coach Maurizio Sarri said the Frenchman had an ankle problem which looked set to rule him out of Wednesday’s game against Southampton.

    This adds to the team’s fitness problems, particularly in attack with Pedro, Cesc Fabregas and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also currently sidelined.

    “We played against a dangerous opponent. So, we had to have possession. We played well in the first 45 minutes and even better in the second half.

    “The only thing I didn’t like is that we didn’t kill the match off,” added the Italian.

    “That meant it was hard to defend the match in the box in the final minutes.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • Sarri rules out switching Kante’s role

    Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante will not be moved back to his preferred position in central midfield, according to the English Premier League clubside’s manager Maurizio Sarri.

    The Italian manager said the role was more suited to technical players such as Jorginho and Cesc Fabregas.

    Kante emerged as a leading deep-lying midfielder in recent seasons, winning back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea.

    He also helped France to claim the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but Sarri said he had to adapt to an advanced role.

    “I want to play a central midfielder who is a very technical player. So, for me, it’s Jorginho or Fabregas.

    Read Also:Kante signs five-year deal with Chelsea

    “I don’t want Kante in this position,” Sarri told reporters ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash with Greek side PAOK Salonika.

    Chelsea head into the contest on the back of a 3-1 league defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, their first loss of the season, where Kante and Jorginho struggled to influence the game.

    The result saw Chelsea drop to fourth in the standings and Sarri criticised 27-year-old Kante’s performance.

    “Kante, in the last match, wanted to solve the match after the first 15 minutes, but in the wrong way. He lost the position, he attacked too much,” Sarri added.

    “This one is not one of the best characteristics of Kante, but it was only in reaction to the difficulties.

    “Maybe it’s only a question of time, but Kante has to stay near to Jorginho, especially when the ball is on the other side,” the Chelsea coach said.

     

  • Kante signs five-year deal with Chelsea

    French international midfielder N’Golo Kante has committed his long-term future to Chelsea by signing a new five-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.

    Kante, an ex-Leicester City FC player who joined Chelsea in 2016, helped the club to win the title in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

    Kante was rewarded for his consistent play by being named the Player of the Year 2016/2017 by both the Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association.

    “I’m happy to extend my time with Chelsea. It has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come.

    “Since I came, I completely improved as a player, challenged myself and got some awards I never thought about.

    “I like the city, I like the club and I am happy to be here for more time’’, Kante said.

    The 27-year-old player tasted his first English Premier League title triumph with Leicester City in the 2015-16 season.

    He also started all seven matches for France as they lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia earlier this year.

     

    NAN

  • Red Devils on rampage

    The Red Devils of Belgium looks poised for their first ever World Cup final berth in history when they meet Former Champions, Les Blues of France in the 1st Semifinal of the mundial at the 65,000 seated, St. Petersburg Stadium in Russia Tuesday at 1900 hours West African Time. On paper, the Belgians even look good as World Champions already.

    The stadium itself is a show of modernity designed by Japanese Architect, Kisho Kurosawa in the shape of space shift with retractable roof and a sliding pitch meant to keep the turf at 15*c. Surely you must have seen players gliding gleefully on the turf, which is a spectacular sight.

    Contrary to speculations of football permutations who are giving the match to France with 38% votes, those who think penalties will decide the match at 29% or those who think Belgium will coast easily to the finals 33% did, current performance gives it to Belgium.

    Records before now states that they have met a whopping 74 times with W24 to France, W30 to Belgium and D19, that record is like considering the Old Black Stars of Ghana whipping The Green Eagles now Super Eagles of Nigeria. Different story now.

    Both have played 5 games in this tournament where Belgians are the highest scorers with 14 goals to France haul of 9 goals. Belgium conceded 5 goals while France let in 4 but when you look at the goals difference of each country, the +9 of Belgium is the total that France scored but when you consider the 4 goals France conceded, there is an imbalance. Goals win matches and if Belgium come smoking, Les Blues are Goners. Bet.

    Read Also: Les Blues at exit door?

    The News Agency of Nigeria went to town asking how Nigerian fans who love Thierry Henri called Igwe, meaning King, for his penchant for goals while at Arsenal F.C., but now Assistant Coach for Belgium feel sitting on Belgian bench. They were all at sea, confused like an Egba man who was elected to lead Kiriji war against his Egba kinsmen by a foster Igbajo people.

    Oliver Giroud who cross-carpeted from Arsenal to Chelsea and the oldest player for France at 31 said “I know Thierry would have loved to be coach of France and we will get him back”. The Nigerian fans made two requests, that Belgium allow Thierry to go seat elsewhere and that FIFA cameras would spare him showing emotions.
    Thomas Meunier will be off for France because he bagged the second yellow in the quarters but Blaise Matuidi will be back. It will be interesting to watch Belgian captain, Eden Hazard face the hard tackles of his Chelsea team mate, Ngolo Kante. Oliver Giroud also of Chelsea however thinks much more of his international team mate, and France Captain, Goal Keeper Hugo Lioris as being better than his Chelsea mate and Belgium goal tender, Thibaut Courtehu. Thinking of penalty shoot outs?

    Uruguayans will officiate the Belgium-France match. Centre Referee is Andre Cunhe; the two astant Refs who are his country men are Nicolas Taran and Manricio Espinosa. The 4th and 5th Refs are Cesar Arturo Ramos and Marvin Torrendera both from Mexico.

    It is expected that the match will not go to the wire. France spanked Belgium 3-1 in the 1st round in 1938 and shoved same Belgium 4-2 at the Bronze medal battle of 1988. This is Belgium’s 2nd world cup semi. They lost to eventual winners Argentina in 1986.

    Fireworks are expected from the two sides who have gotten the experience of the quarry site in this tournament, What do you think of a France that played goalless with Denmark; dismissed Argentina with their megastars of Messi, Di Maria, Aguero, Mascherano etc 3-2 at the round of 16 and pecked Uruguay 2-0 in the quarters.
    Belgium caged the aristocratic Three Lions of England 1-0; dismissed the stubborn Japanese 3-2 and shoved off the prolific Samba boys of Brazil who believe the world cup is their birth right 2-1 in a breathtaking encounter.

    The attackers of Belgium are as dangerous as rattle snakes. Belgium kept injuring all opponents through set pieces especially corner kicks. Fellaini leads six other tall players in the Belgian squad. Most of the goals are through powerful headers. Hazard is terribly hazardous when on duty. Belgium needs an antidote for the lethal shots of Griezmann of France.

    The two teams know what is at stake. Belgium knows this kind of opportunity comes perhaps once in a life time. The team is a bunch of relatively young folks. Lukaku has been a star from age 16 and has 4 goals behind Harry Kane of England but the third goal scored against Japan that came through an Eden Hazard pass he jumped over for Chadu to slam in in 90+4 minute.

    France is regarded as an African team because they have 8 blacks or Africans in the team who got their citizenship. France plays physical football like Africa. I suspect that the team that will go out is the team that commits error.

     

  • Kante ruled out of France’s final qualifier

    Kante ruled out of France’s final qualifier

    Chelsea midfielder N‘Golo Kante has been ruled out of France’s final 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Belarus on Tuesday due to a muscle injury.

    National team coach Didier Deschamps disclosed this after Kante limped off shortly after half an hour and was replaced by Adrien Rabiot during France’s 1-0 away win over Bulgaria on Saturday.

    The 1998 champions have now moved within touching distance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

    “I can’t count on him for the next game. It’s a muscular problem behind the thigh,“ Deschamps said. ”Kante and Rabiot pretty much swapped. It is fixed for Tuesday.

    “N‘Golo had a crucial part to play, obviously. After N‘Golo’s injury, Adrien Rabiot came on in the same role, maybe not with the same quality as N‘Golo.”

    Les Bleus lead Group A with 20 points, one ahead of Sweden, and will qualify directly for the World Cup if they beat Belarus.

    NAN

  • N’Golo Kante’s hairdresser travels 130 miles to cut star’s hair

    N’Golo Kante’s hairdresser travels 130 miles to cut star’s hair

    Chelsea midfielder  and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, N’Golo Kante ‘s hairdresser drives 130 miles from Leicester to cut his hair every two weeks.

    The former Leicester midfielder has refused to cut ties with his barber and Leicester City fan Naji Nagy despite his move to Chelsea.

    The 30-year-old hairdresser, who runs a salon in Leicester, will continue to style Kante’s hair after his £32 million transfer to the capital.

    Naji, who had a season ticket at the King Power Stadium last season, said: “I have been cutting his hair since he came to Leicester.

    “He has become more than a customer, he is a friend, more than that even.

    “I am sad he has made the move to Chelsea but these things happen in life.

    “He told me it all happened while he was away at Euro 2016. Maybe it was an offer he could not refuse.”

    Naji, who runs the Suez Canal Hairstylz salon in St Matthew’s, will carry on making sure Kante’s hair looks good.

    He said: “We talked about it and agreed I will go down to London to continue styling his hair.

    “He is lovely man and I wish him all the best with his new club.

    “N’Golo gave his all for Leicester City and I am sure our fans will respect that and him.”

    Naji has supported the Foxes since he arrived in this country in 2005 from Africa to live with his older brother, Ahmed.

    He started to cut Kante’s hair after they bumped into each other at a local mosque.

    Naji also cuts the hair of city superstar Riyad Mahrez.

    The Foxes fan who often goes to games with a City logo on the front of his white Muslim jubba robe, said: “I hope Riyad stays.

    “I go to his house to cut his hair because he would be mobbed if he came here.

    “We don’t talk about transfer speculation. I think he just wants to relax and talk about other stuff.”

    Naji, a qualified level 4 county FA referee, said the Riyad haircut is the favourite with his customers.

    Naji also used to cut the hair of young striker Joe Dodoo, who recently moved to Rangers from City.

    Nagi said: “If Joe pays me to travel to Glasgow then I will carry on doing his hair too.”

     

    Nagi is hoping that Mahrez does not make it a hat-trick of his customers moving away from the King Power Stadium.

    He said: “I think the club has bought well but we must keep Riyad.

    “He got me tickets for the City game against Barcelona in Sweden next week.

    “If Riyad moves and wants me to continue cutting his hair I will – even if he goes to Barcelona.”

    The Blues’ Belgium winger Eden Hazard was second, with Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli third at this year’s Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

    The France international helped Leicester City win the Premier League title last season and is doing the same with Chelsea this season.

  • Chelsea wins the English Premier League

    Chelsea wins the English Premier League

    Chelsea wins the  Premier League title after defeating West Bromwich Albion in an away match 1-0 at the Hawthorns.

    Late goal from  Michy Batshuayi  gave the Blues the league, which mean they hold an inviolable 10-point advantage over Tottenham.

    It is the sixth time that blues have won EPL title and the fourth time since 2004-05 season that they have claimed the Premier League title.

    Their campaign has been one of virtual unabated excellence since a sticky period in September, when they lost successive matches against Liverpool and Arsenal saw them drop as far as eighth.

    The Chelsea first team manager Antonio Conte, who arrived in the summer to guide the team after a disappointing 2015-16 season, thereafter altered his side to play with three at the back, and that proved the catalyst for a 13-match winning streak that proved to be the decisive run as they claimed the crown.

    Chelsea can yet complete a league and cup double as they face Arsenal on May 27 at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

    Conte’s men have been recognised individually as well as collectively, meanwhile. Summer signing N’Golo Kante won the PFA Player of the Year award and also claimed the Football Writer’s prize, with Eden Hazard finishing as runner-up in both categories.

    Diego Costa has been their top scorer in the Premier League this season, having netted 20 goals for the campaign to date, just four shy of the division’s leading marksman, Romelu Lukaku.

    The long-term aim for Conte must be to maintain the momentum created by this success and ensure that his squad does not fade in the same manner that Mourinho’s did previously.