Key N’Golo Kante tactic revealed as Chelsea boss Frank Lampard prepares for Leicester game
CHELSEA star N’Golo Kante is having success in a more advanced position this season because his midfield partner Jorginho is receiving more help defensively.
Chelsea vs Leicester: Frank Lampard previews upcoming clash
That’s according to Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham.
Last season under Maurizio Sarri, Kante was played further forward than usual and scored more goals in a season than he ever had before, but Chelsea were left defensively exposed.
Many believed this to be the case because of Sarri’s insistence on playing Kante further up the pitch.
But Higginbotham believes it was more down to Jorginho being left to fend by himself defensively while Kante ventured forward.
The former Stoke man noted how Kante had success against Liverpool in the Super Cup final because Mateo Kovacic and the Frenchman would take turns partnering Jorginho in a deeper role.
"I think because I've heard it mentioned since the game [against Liverpool] that everybody is saying that Sarri did it and it was seen as a huge problem, and now Lampard's doing it and it's not seen as a big problem,” he told Sky Sports.
"The problem isn't the fact that Kante was pushing high last season, it was the fact that Jorginho didn't really have any support.
"They're playing 4-3-3 now but two will sit whilst one goes forward.
Key N’Golo Kante tactic revealed as Chelsea boss Frank Lampard prepares for Leicester game (Image: GETTY)
Key N’Golo Kante tactic revealed as Chelsea boss Frank Lampard prepares for Leicester game (Image: GETTY)
“Whereas last season when they played it, Jorginho was left on his own and that's why they were so open to the counter attack.
"There's no problem with Kante going forward.
“You want to press high, but what we saw at times was Kovacic then saying 'ok, well I'll sit and just take it in turns’.
“So there's no problem with that, it's just within a 4-3-3 system having the two sitting midfielders instead of just the one."
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