Through the fog of injuries casted on the surface of Ngolo Kante’s class as a player, Chelsea fans and Todd Boehly must be careful not to write off the French international as his end is far from near.
Kante’s lack of fitness has worsened in the last couple of seasons, limiting the Chelsea man to starting 20, 24, and 21 games in each of the last three premier league seasons. These are obviously worrying signs, while one can agree with the hierarchy putting his injury record and game involvement into consideration before offering him a new long term contract, the need to thoroughly examine what is best for the club is sacrosanct.
However, Kante’s current contract with Chelsea expires in 2023 and while he is ready to end his career at Stamford Bridge but wants a longer commitment, a lot of factors have to be considered. Chelsea have rightly factored in the number of injuries he has sustained in the previous few years as to why they are reluctant to take too much of a risk. But when you offer a 31 year old Kalidou Koulibally a four year contract at about the same age as Kante who is arguably the club’s best player fit, that is something Kante and his entourage will be using as a leverage on the negotiation table.
Despite N’Golo Kante turning 31 in March and with age, the frequency of these injuries might increase so it makes complete sense why the Blues are slowly pushing him to the fringes. Logically, in all those title winning seasons, one can categorically argue that Kante’s influence during that time has a role to play with his injury record. His outputs were ridiculously good over that period. Chelsea fans who recognise Ngolo’s qualities more than Todd Boehly does should not forget how much he has served the club.
Everyone needs to be reminded that Ngolo didn’t become a bad player, injuries have only deprived us of his class. For all it’s worth, Kante still has a lot to offer Chelsea, he should be helped rather than discarded like a spineless hero from the past, he has served the club diligently since his arrival from Leicester, it is time for the club to show faith in him.
This isn’t in anyway a plea of sympathy for Ngolo, it is in every way trying to state the obvious, that injuries are part of the game and can be managed. Ngolo needs to be properly managed like he was greedily used over the years by previous managers. Football is evolving, a 31 year old Ngolo Kante has so much to offer and a vivid example of that is in the precious Thiago Silva.
Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Messi and others can all be sighted as examples as well. Discarding veterans who ooze as much class as this might not be a wise way to rebuild a team, experience should be the backbone of any rebuild. In Kante’s case his class is permanent, he is one of the greatest midfielders to have ever graced football and a few run of misfortunes with injuries will not dim his light.
There’s no doubt that a fully fit Ngolo will walk into any team in European football. Not nostalgia, but a healthy air of prudency should be applied to this contract tussle, for Ngolo is class and class is Ngolo and you feel that top European clubs will be waiting for his signature should Chelsea not decide to extend him. It could be a decision that, on the face of it right now looks like a pretty obvious decision but one that next season could end up biting them where it hurts.
