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Tag: N’Golo Kante

  • Meet the game changers in Chelsea’s squad

    Meet the game changers in Chelsea’s squad

    Chelsea needs just three points from their last 3 League games to secure their sixth EPL title in history; Chelsea has had an astonishing season.

    The club manager Antonio Conte has transfigure the fortunes of the blues who ended 10th in 2015/16 season to put them at the top of the pile in the English top flight.

    Chelsea have been competing with local rivals and a resilient opponent – Tottenham, however, they now look almost assured and confident of becoming champions once again.

    Players like David Luiz, Gary Chaill, Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso, Victor Moses, Willian, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro have all been very necessary condiment in the impressive Chelsea’s potpourri.

    N’Golo Kante, France international, has been Chelsea’s best player this season and he is the Premier League’s best transfer of the season, having made the £32 million move from Leicester City in the summer.

    He has picked up both of this season’s PFA Player of the Year and the FWA Player of the Year awards, despite his defensive role in the team.

    He made 289 tackles since he moved to England at the start of last season more than any other player. He is the most defensive player to with the PFA’s award since Terry and his impact has been huge in allowing his side to control games in a title winning season.

    Kante scored only two goals this season; both goals came against Manchester United, but goals aren’t what he is measured by. Nonetheless, he ranks among the highest in the league for tackles and interceptions.

    Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s most exciting player and has produced several moments that have been vital to his side’s resurgent season. His 19 goals match his haul from the 2014-15 season in which Chelsea claimed the title. He earned individual glory by being awarded the PFA Player of the Year award.

    Conte has got the best out of the Chelsea team especially the Belgian playmaker, Eden Hazard, in the 3-4-3 formation. Hazard plays an integral part in the new formation the blues. The Belgium, being a gold fish have become the darling and envy of most top ranked clubs in Europe.

    Real Madrid have made the blues ‘play maker’ their number one target and are willing to lure him to the santiago bernabeu making him part of los blancos dressing room.

    He is the second most fouled against player in the league this season having been brought down 89 times as he attempts, on average, four dribbles-per-game.

    Lastly, it is important to beam our light on Azpilicueta, who has also shown impressive leadership on the field of play. Ever since John Terry stepped back from his almost default starting role, and Gary Cahill assumed the role of captain, the Chelsea defender has consistently played and defended for his team in a way that is nothing short of commitment and leadership.

    The versatile defender has been utilised in five different positions this season and has excelled in almost every one. He has played as both a wing back and full back on both sides, as well as adapting brilliantly to being a right sided centre-back in Conte’s three man defence.

    He is the only Chelsea player to have played in every single minute of their league campaign and he has produced more passes than any other player in the Premier League, so far, this season.

    Conte and his coaching staff have improved greatly improved on their teamwork especially when it comes to ball possession; Conte currently ranks seventh for completed balls this year.

  • Kante wins 2017 football writers’ association.

    Kante wins 2017 football writers’ association.

    The Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante takes his second individual prize of the campaign having also won the PFA Player of the Year award. He becomes the 18th player in the history of English football to win both awards in the same season.

    Another Chelsea player, Eden Hazard came second in the voting, with Tottenham’s Dele Alli in third place. Between Kante and Hazard, a winner of the award in 2015, collected more than 65 per cent of the journalists’ votes.

    Kante, who will receive his prize at a Gala Dinner in London on 18 May, said: ‘It is a fantastic honour to win this award. With so many great players in this Chelsea squad and in the Premier League, for the Football Writers’ Association of this country to name me as their Footballer of the Year is a very proud moment in my career.”

    FWA Chairman Patrick Barclay added: ‘N’Golo Kante could not be a more deserving winner of English football’s most prestigious individual award. In the view of some FWA members, he would have been a worthy recipient last season for his contribution to Leicester’s title success, but the almost unbroken excellent form of Chelsea since he changed clubs has left little room for further debate.

    “Considering the competition of Eden Hazard and others from Chelsea in particular, this is a great achievement.”

    Kante played a pivotal role in the team’s success up until this point after moving to Stamford Bridge from Leicester City last summer.

    His high energy levels and ability to win the ball, and distribute it intelligently, in midfield has been integral to the way in which Antonio Conte wants his team to play, and the 26-year-old has also provided a threat in the attacking third, as his brilliant goals in home matches against Manchester United testify.

    In total, five Chelsea players were nominated by FWA members, with defenders David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta, as well as striker Diego Costa, also receiving votes.

    N’Golo became the fourth Chelsea player to win the award, joining Hazard (2015), Frank Lampard (2005) and Gianfranco Zola (1997).

  • Chelsea’s Kante wins PFA player of the year award for 2016-17

    N’Golo Kante has won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award for 2016-17.

    The Chelsea midfielder, 26, beat Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez in the vote by his fellow players.

    Kante was key to Leicester’s surprise Premier League win last year and could become first player to achieve the distinction of winning successive titles with different clubs if Chelsea can stay ahead of Spurs in this season’s race.

    Since signing Kante in July, Chelsea have gone from a mid-table finish to the top of the pile with six games to play.

    In his absence, Leicester have largely struggled to replicate their heroics of last season and are still not safe from relegation.

    France international Kante has played every minute in the league this season apart from the Boxing Day game against Bournemouth, when he was suspended, and the final 11 minutes against Tottenham on Jan. 4.

    Kante said: “It’s a huge honour to be chosen by the other players. It’s the biggest honour to get this award.”

    The midfielder is on course to win the Premier League with Chelsea, having done so last season at Leicester, and added: “My first two seasons were very beautiful.

    “Last season was very beautiful. This season so far, we have had a good season but we have to finish well.”

    Tottenham’s Dele Alli won the young player prize for the second successive year, while Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze won the Women’s Player of the Year award.

    Birmingham’s Jess Carter was named Women’s Young Player of the Year.

    Former England captain David Beckham received the PFA’s Merit award for his contribution to the game during the ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday.

    Also, former England women’s captain Kelly Smith – who became England’s first female professional footballer when she joined American side New Jersey in 1999 – landed the PFA Special Achievement award.

     

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    Kante, Conte swoop EPL awards

    Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has won London Premier League player of the year after being in the capital for only several months.

    Kante, who has been instrumental in Chelsea’s rise to the top of the Premier League this season, picked up the gong at the London Football Awards on Thursday night.

    The midfield dynamo won the prize ahead of Blues team-mate Diego Costa, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Tottenham’s Dele Alli.

    The 25-year-old has clocked up the miles in the centre of midfield this season following his move from Leicester City last summer and has impressed supporters and pundits alike.

    His ability to intercept, dictate and create has given Antonio Conte’s men a recipe for success.

    Sportsmail columnist Jamie Carragher said recently that Kante has been ‘unbelievable at Chelsea’.

    He is one of the favourites to be named PFA Player of the Year.

    Blues manager Conte, who is on course to win his first Premier League title with the club, was awarded the manager of the year award.

    He arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer after leaving the Italy manager’s job at the end of the European Championship in France.

    He has found a winning formula since moving to a 3-4-3 formation and Chelsea sit ten points clear of Tottenham at the top of the league.

    There was some joy for those at Tottenham, however, as midfielder Alli picked up the award for the capital’s young player of the year.

    The former MK Dons player has developed tremendously over the last season and a half and is one of the first names on Pochettino’s teamsheet.

    Alli has formed a strong understanding with fellow midfielders Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier as well as striker Harry Kane.

    Frank Lampard was also recognised for his services to football in London. Lampard, who won three Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his 13 years at Stamford Bridge, picked up the prize for his outstanding contribution to Chelsea. Former England manager Roy Hodgson helped present him his award.