'Does not save himself': National team coach says he is fine with Chelsea dropping £30m ace
France’s national team coach Didier Deschamps admits he isn’t fussed when N’Golo Kante doesn’t start for Chelsea, speaking to RMC.
Kante recently joined up with Deschamps and the French squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers, fresh from his exploits at club level.
His contribution towards Chelsea’s meteoric rise under Thomas Tuchel cannot be understated.
He looks back to the kind of Kante who the Blues bought from Leicester City for £30m (BBC Sport) in 2016.
This hasn’t always been the case.
After a terrific maiden season at Stamford Bridge, where he was instrumental in winning the Premier League, Kante’s levels have wavered.
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Injuries also began to creep into his system, something he’s never really experienced before in his career.
Tuchel has managed the 29-year-old’s game time intelligently, wise to the fact he cannot afford to lose his all-action midfielder.
Deschamps was satisfied with how his player had been governed and admitted that Kante sometimes inadvertently brought physical problems upon himself.
‘Le Blues’ boss said: “He (Kante) is used to the very high level. He does not save himself. I am not unhappy when Tuchel does not start him every game.
“But everything is communicative. The players can come less well from their club and come back better condition.
“The reverse is also possible. Kante, it is more the physical worries where it has problems which follow one another for several seasons.
“Then it does not spare itself but it is like that, I will not change it. With a little experience, he learns to manage himself.”
France and Kante will be looking to kickstart their qualifying campaign later this evening when they face Ukraine.
If they are to be successful at this summer’s European Championships, they will need the Chelsea man fit and firing on all cylinders.
