Chelsea fans eagerly await N’Golo Kante’s return after seven-month absence
Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, who has been out for seven months due to a hamstring injury, may finally be able to make his comeback in the upcoming match against Everton at Stamford Bridge. This would allow Chelsea’s own version of Kylian Mbappe, who has been unavailable for some time, to finally be unleashed by manager Graham Potter.
Chelsea fans have unfortunately become accustomed to seeing N’Golo Kante leaving the pitch with a ginger walk due to his recurring injuries. However, the frustration and disappointment never decreased, and the only question was how long his absence would last.
Even the most pessimistic fans could not have predicted a seven-month absence.
During this time, there have been significant changes at Chelsea and in the football world. Thomas Tuchel has left, and Graham Potter has taken over as manager. The World Cup has been held, and the tournament has expanded.
The Blues have struggled in the Premier League but have managed to secure a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Throughout this period, Kante has been undergoing a prolonged recovery process following hamstring surgery in October. Much of his rehabilitation work has been behind the scenes at Cobham, and it was not until early January that the 31-year-old returned to the training ground, although his progress was slow and cautious.
In the following eight weeks, Kante’s return to the pitch was carefully managed by Chelsea to avoid any potential setbacks. The club recognized the importance of being patient with the midfielder’s recovery, as rushing him back from injuries has not worked in the past under previous head coaches and has only harmed Kante’s health.
This time, there is confidence that Kante has been handled with great care and attention to detail. Although he returned to full training before the match against Leeds United, he did not participate. Furthermore, he was not included in the squad for the crucial Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, nor did he play against his former club Leicester City on Saturday.
“We’re aiming maybe for Everton,” said Potter last week. Naturally, that resulted in excitement building within the Chelsea fanbase. The sight of Kante in the matchday squad – even if he doesn’t come off the substitutes’ bench – this weekend will be a huge boost heading into the international break.
It is important to note that Graham Potter has not yet had the chance to select Kante during his tenure at Chelsea due to the midfielder’s injury. Kante has proven to be a game-changer in the past, capable of turning a good team into an excellent one, as he did during Chelsea’s run to the 2021 Champions League under Tuchel.
There is hope that Kante will have a significant role to play in this season’s competition, as he has yet to feature due to his injury. Chelsea will play their quarter-final match after the international break, and while they don’t know their opponents yet, no club will be seen as unbeatable with a fully fit and fresh Kante in the midfield. Tuchel previously compared Kante’s importance to that of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, highlighting his value to the team.
Additionally, the idea of Kante working alongside Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea’s club-record signing who arrived in January from Benfica, is an exciting prospect.
The issue of Kante’s contract remains unresolved, with his current deal expiring in the summer. Although discussions have taken place regarding extending his stay at Stamford Bridge, no official agreement has been reached yet. Regardless, the most crucial thing is to get Kante back on the field.
After waiting for seven long months, the moment may finally arrive on Saturday, and Chelsea fans will be excited to see what Kante can bring to the team once again.
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