Chelsea’s influential box-to-box midfielder N’Golo Kante was sent home early from their pre-season tour of Japan so he could continue rehabilitation on a knee problem that he has been nursing for a few months.
The Manchester Evening News have reported that the Frenchman is a serious doubt for their Premier League opener against Manchester United which has left some fans fretting ahead of the first ‘Super Sunday‘ of the season whilst others believe it may be wise to hold off on rushing him back.
Kante sustained the knee injury a week before the club faced local rivals Arsenal in the Europa League final – where the 28-year-old actually managed to play the full 90 minutes as Chelsea won 4-1.
His boss Frank Lampard revealed that with two weeks to go until the season starting, Kante is still yet to resume full training also stating that he would make a decision closer to the time.
A number of supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts with many emphasising Kante’s importance to the team – one fan labelled him one of the most influential members of the squad with another claiming his is the most important now that Eden Hazard has departed.
Others believed that Lampard should hold back on playing him against United, if fit, with one wanting more technical players in the midfield to control the game and one member of the Stamford Bridge support thinks that Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic are doing a good enough job to warrant a slow return for Kante.
You can read the best of the reaction below:
https://twitter.com/ImTheDuDe86/status/1155844399982661633
The MOST important now that Hazard’s gone
— Kitheka (@Mesh_Muli) July 29, 2019
Kante is our best player now hazard has left so yeah we need him 100% or we will struggle big time this season
— ???????????????????? (@SW3CareFree) July 29, 2019
I think he shouldn’t start anyway. United’s pressing game means we need 2 technical.palyers in the midfield pivot to control the game and supply our attackers.
I would go for Jorginho and Kovacic for that game.
— Wasiq (@Wasiqs3404CFC) July 29, 2019
with no preparation he won’t start it anyway i think ! jorginho-kovacic are doing a good job so imo they must start that game ! n’golo will come back slowly, no need to rush him back …
— mouh (@MouhSai) July 29, 2019
This made me worried ????
— Chuks Emma Nnaemeka (@ChukzTony) July 29, 2019
Kante changes everything for us. Kovacic had a superb EL final and yet Kante on one leg still dominated. The psychological boost of not losing on the opening day makes the risk worth it. It should be: Kepa; Azpi, Zouma, Luiz, Emerson; Jorginho, Kante; Pedro, Mount, Pulisic; Tammy
— Andrew Turmer (@AndrewTurmer) July 29, 2019
