Ruben Loftus-Cheek revealed that his Chelsea co-worker N’Golo Kante becomes a different man when a football starts being kicked around.
Speaking to UMM, Loftus-Cheek explained that the Frenchman’s gentle nature disappears the second he steps onto the pitch.
Salt of the earth
Kante is undoubtedly one of the kindest players away from the competitive arena.
That glistening grin could probably melt the polar ice caps.
But, when the whistle blows, something switches in his head.
His smile turns into a tackle, the diminutive figure becomes the largest persona in the stadium.
Few footballers have such a Jekyll and Hyde personality, but there are few footballers like Kante.
Yet, for the majority of the time, he is the loveable human being who brings joy to everyone around him.
“He does. He doesn’t even try (to make everyone smile),” said Loftus-Cheek on the mini-midfield being Stamford Bridge’s ray of sunshine.
“You know, he’s not even trying, we just see him and he looks all cute.
“Smiling and you’re just like aww. But then he’ll come on the pitch and just rattle you.”
Turn that frown upside down
Sadly, at the minute, Kante’s warm aura is probably a little cold right now.
The 30-year-old has been suffering with injuries throughout this season and the last.
A knee problem picked up last month has forced him to sit out the last four Chelsea fixtures.
Thomas Tuchel’s team have won just once in that period, an indication of his importance to the side.
Overall, the Parisian’s time on the treatment table totals to 12 matches missed in 2021/22.
All we want is to see Kante full of life again before the term concludes.
Otherwise, 2022 will be a lot gloomier for the industry and everyone at Chelsea.
This interview with Loftus-Cheek took place at the Call of Duty Vanguard launch event.
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