Rob Green claims an in-form N’Golo Kante could be the deciding factor if Chelsea are to knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League.
Speaking on the BBC Football Daily, the former Blues goalkeeper identified Kante’s importance to a potential turnaround at the Bernabeu this evening.
In recent times, European nights such as the one coming up have been made for the silent Frenchman.
During the latter stages of last season’s competition, the mini midfielder transformed into a heavyweight boxer, hitting his opponents with blow after blow.
He was named the man of the match in one leg of the round of 16, both semi-finals and in the final.
Rather topically, his awards in the penultimate stages of the tournament were achieved against tonight’s Spanish hosts.
Can N’Golo go the extra distance?
Madrid will be fearing the version of Kante from the team’s encounter just under 12 months ago does not appear later today.
Instead, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad must be praying for the underwhelming display witnessed in London on Wednesday.
Like a majority of Thomas Tuchel’s men, Kante looked off the pace and out of the game as Los Blancos won 3-1.
The 31-year-old hasn’t quite been the same machine this term, with his oil levels sometimes running low.
However, the Parisian only needs to fill up once to be back up to full speed.
Hopefully his batteries will be recharged ahead of the match-up in Madrid, otherwise, Chelsea could be in trouble again.
Kante must meet Madrid head on
“In that dressing room, there’s some leaders but not a huge amount,” said Green.
“You look at those key individuals down the spine of the team and you’re saying, which one of these players is going to take the game by the scruff of the neck?
“You are looking at the likes of Toni Rudiger, leading from the back, progressing the ball.
“And then either (N’Golo) Kovacic or Kante have a huge role within this. If he (Kante) can get to grips with the midfield in there, he is a leader by example.
“Not the loudest guy, a very humble guy, but if he gets that belief right and gets that drive in midfield going, I think they can turn it around.
“But it’s going to be a tall order and they need every single one of them to show the belief that they do have.”
Whilst many are still supporting a Chelsea comeback, the mission at hand cannot be understated.
Madrid have become a stubborn animal under Ancelotti, rarely conceding, or losing for that matter.
History is also not in Tuchel’s favour.
No English side has ever won a Champions League game at the Bernabeu by more than one goal.
Chelsea need at least two without reply to have a chance of progressing.
Those odds will be better if Kante can relight the flame that burnt Madrid twice in 2020/21.
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