Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes that Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is underutilizing N’golo Kante by using him in an advanced role.
Sarri came with former Napoli midfielder, Jorginho with the player being handed a defensive role just ahead of the back four. The decision has meant that Kante is pushed further forward from his natural defensive position. The move has worked for Jorginho as he dictates play in his deep-lying role and has completed the most passes of any other player this season.
Merson believes that Kante is being wasted, “I don’t think it’s Kante’s position in a more advanced role. He’s not going to get you five goals in a whole season and he’s probably not going to get five assists, it’s a bit of a waste of a position really. Jorginho is a proper player, he’s always looking forward, his first thought it to pass forward, but to win two league titles with two different clubs just shows how good he [Kante] is.”
Kante has only scored one goal so far this season which came in the opening day win over Huddersfield Town.